- Title: Ireland's Coveney: can't renegotiate Brexit backstop in short time
- Date: 28th August 2019
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 28, 2019) (REUTERS) IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER SIMON COVENEY WALKING ON STAGE TO GIVE SPEECH AT ANNUAL END-OF-SUMMER BUSINESS FORUM ORGANISED BY FRANCE'S MEDEF EMPLOYERS FEDERATION
- Embargoed: 11th September 2019 15:03
- Keywords: backstop Coveney Brexit withdrawal agreement Ireland Northern Ireland Britain EU
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AU4VUIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Ireland's foreign minister on Wednesday (August 28) said ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement was the only way to ensure Britain's orderly exit from the European Union, adding time was too short to renegotiate the Irish border backstop protocol.
With little over two months until Britain is due to leave the EU, there is little clarity over how this will happen or whether it will happen at all. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson moved to limit parliament's opportunity to derail his Brexit plans on Wednesday.
Speaking at a forum hosted by France's MEDEF employers federation, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the backstop was currently the only viable solution to preserve "an all-Ireland economy which in many ways has been the most effective reinforcer of peaceful relationships".
Coveney added that a no-deal Brexit was becoming increasingly likely and urged all companies, big and small, to prepare for the important changes it would bring to the trading environment between Britain and the European Union.
(Production Michaela Cabrera, Hortense de Roffignac) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.