Ireland seeks to boost its ‘global footprint’

Moves to double Ireland’s global footprint and strengthen alliances will be announced today in an effort to better protect the country in a post-Brexit European Union.

The launch comes as crucial talks continue this week to try and solve the latest impasse over Brexit, with just two weeks before a key June summit of EU leaders.

Britain’s white paper on Brexit will now not be published before the summit. There has been a cautious response to a proposal to allow Britain remain in the customs union temporarily to prevent a hard border in the North.