Phil Hogan: Ireland must build new alliances in post-Brexit EU

Brexit has reduced the government’s “political strength” in Europe and will force the country to forge new alliances, Ireland’s EU commissioner has said.

“This is going to create some additional difficulties for Ireland, in a political sense, around the table of the European Council and various ministries,” said Phil Hogan, the EU’s agriculture chief.

Ireland has traditionally relied on the UK to help fight its corner in Europe, particularly on tax, banking and single market rules.