Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On Brexit, I assure the House that the Government is working towards securing the ratification of the withdrawal agreement including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the backstop. I think that is achievable. It may not be achievable in the next few weeks but it is achievable and we are working towards that. On what may happen if there is no deal on 29 March, we must always remember that 29 March is a UK deadline, one set in Britain for Britain. It was not set by Ireland or the European Union. A no-deal Brexit is not a threat that Ireland or the European Union is making. It can be taken off the table by the United Kingdom at any time, either by revoking Article 50 or by seeking an extension of it. We will listen to any requests the British may make for that. I was asked by some Deputies about texts being discussed. No texts have been discussed or shared with us and I have seen no text nor have I discussed any text. We are not being secretive about a text that does not exist. I imagine that is another conspiracy theory.

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