Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I clarified the position that is consistent with the approach we support on the backstop, namely, that we will not support border infrastructure even in a no-deal scenario. Contingency planning on the issue goes beyond the kind of planning needed in many other areas because it is highly political and highly sensitive. It will undoubtedly involve conversations with the British Government, as well as with the European Commission, to find a contingency mechanism that can avoid physical border infrastructure re-emerging on the island.

The way to do that, which took two years to negotiate and put together, is the backstop. It is clear from her speeches in recent weeks that the British Prime Minister is as much an advocate for the backstop as we are. In our view, the European Commission is unlikely to move away from insisting on a backstop as part of a withdrawal agreement should that be agreed.

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