Trust essential - Getting best Brexit deal

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny’s first effort at convincing the Northern Ireland government both administrations should work together to secure the best possible Brexit deal for this island did not inspire confidence. 

His half-baked proposal was, unsurprisingly, dismissed by the North’s first minister, Arlene Foster. The two leaders met again last evening and it must be hoped that progress was made on this pressing issue, one that, unless handled in the most professional, detached way, may have a negative impact and undo some of the progress made towards “normalisation”.

Those fears are exacerbated by a leaked report suggesting that Britain has no overall plan for Brexit and that 30,000 new civil servants will be needed to finalise the divorce. IMF concerns, expressed by Christine Lagarde, about the growing uncertainty hardly help either.

This is, by a distance, the first time the new relationships on this island will be tested so very thoroughly. Let us all hope that they are equal to the task and that they strengthen the trust between the communities living on this island.