Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Time is running out or to use the phrase of Michel Barnier, "the clock is ticking". We had hoped to have the Irish issues settled, separate from the withdrawal agreement, in June. Then it was October. Now it is to be November.

The Taoiseach referred to some of the English newspapers. Bloomberg reported today that the EU will make support for Ireland's Brexit position conditional on Ireland dropping opposition to corporate tax reform. Bloomberg also quoted an alleged European Commission official saying that solidarity does not come for free.

This is the sort of brinksmanship and last-minute concern that people would have if the Irish matters are not settled well in advance of the final withdrawal agreement being negotiated at the last hour.

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