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Dublin writer Ulick Without Changes To Proposals IRISH
O’Connor died on
Tánaiste Insists ‘There Is Not EXAMINER
Monday, aged 91.

Going To Be A Deal’ |

he Tánaiste Simon are a long way from something October
Coveney has said the UK’s to which the parliament could 9th,
Tcurrent approach to Brexit agree.
His work spanned simplywon’twork. “In addition, they are not 2019
It comes after Leo Varadkar
areas such as biography, warned Boris Johnson that immediately operable.”
The British Prime Minister’s
poetry, Irish history, negotiating a new agreement chances of a breakthrough with
drama and literary criti- by the crucial EU summit will Brussels were looking increas-
cism. be “very difficult.” ingly unlikely after accusations
In the 1950s, he was a Mr Coveney, who met with from Number 10 that the bloc
sports correspondent for the EU’s Chief Brexit was making it “essentially
The Observer, while he Negotiator Michel Barnier in impossible” for Britain to leave
was also a columnist for Brussels on Tuesday evening, with a deal.
several Irish newspapers. said: “If the approach from the Mr Johnson will hope to gain
President Michael D British Government is ‘take it concessions from the Taoiseach
Higgins paid tribute, say- or leave it’ on the basis of the during in-person talks to avert a
ing Mr O'Connor was a proposal coming from the no-deal exit anticipated later
well-loved and distinctive British Prime Minister last this week.
voice in public debate. week, well then the British side But with the October 31
President Higgins said: must know that there is not deadline rapidly closing in, the On Tuesday, there was fury nent.”
“Ulick O’Connor blos- going to be a deal.” Taoiseach warned of the chal- in Brussels following a series of The dramatic escalation in
There should be a focus on
somed when he found the securing a Brexit deal rather lenges of securing a new deal by No 10 briefings claiming the war of words between
Brussels and London followed a
German Chancellor Angela
next week – a key period in the
space to share his wit than looking for someone to Brexit saga with the summit in Merkel had made clear a deal telephone call on Tuesday
and knowledge as a blame, according to the Brussels. was now “overwhelmingly between Mr Johnson and Mrs
writer and publicist, Tánaiste. Mr Varadkar said Ireland unlikely.” Merkel to discuss the latest UK
advocating strongly on a Mr Coveney said there is too and the EU would not accept No 10 sources claimed Mrs proposal to resolve the dead-
wide range of issues, much on the line for Brexit to an agreement at “any cost.” Merkel had told the PM that lock over the Northern Ireland
particularly related to the become a blame-game. “There are some fundamen- Britain could not leave the EU backstop.
importance of creativity He said: “This is far too tal objectives that haven’t unless it was prepared to leave EU leaders have dismissed
and independent thought enormous an issue, quite changed for the past three years Northern Ireland behind in a the plan as the basis for a settle-
in society. frankly, in terms of the future and we need them guaran- permanent customs union. ment as it would mean the
“A voracious reader, relationship of the UK and the teed,” he told RTE news. European Council president return of customs checks on the
with an obvious delight in EU and the UK and Ireland to “I think it is going to be very Donald Tusk accused Mr island of Ireland, albeit taking
the power of words, Ulick be focusing on the politics of difficult to secure an agreement Johnson of engaging in a “stu- place well away from the bor-
O’Connor became a blame rather than the politics of by next week, quite frankly. pid blame game” ahead of next der between the North and the
well-loved and distinctive trying to get a deal.” “Essentially what the United week’s crucial EU summit. Republic.
voice in public debate, Meanwhile, the new presi- Kingdom has done is repudiate “At stake is the future of A No 10 source said Mrs
and his prose, literary dent of the European the deal that we negotiated in Europe and the UK as well as Merkel had told the Prime
Minister Ireland must at least
the security and interests of our
criticism and his own Parliament has said there has good faith with Prime Minister people,” he tweeted. have a veto on Northern
(Theresa) May’s government
been “no progress” on Brexit
poetry will continue to be following talks with Mr over two years and sort of put “You don’t want a deal, you Ireland leaving the EU with the
read by many genera- Johnson in Downing Street. half of that now back on the don’t want an extension, you rest of the UK.
tions.” “I came here in the confident table and are saying, ‘That’s a don’t want to revoke, quo vadis “It was a very useful clarify-
He added: “His com- hope of hearing proposals that concession’. And of course it (where are you going)?” ing moment in all sorts of
mitment to performance could take negotiations for- isn’t really.” But Jean-Claude Juncker ways,” the unnamed source,
will be remembered fond- ward,” David Sassoli said in a The British PM had spoken went on to say that if negotia- quoted by Sky News, said.
ly as well as his lifelong statement. to Mr Varadkar by telephone tions fail, “the explanation will “If this represents a new
support for actors and “However, I must note that for about 40 minutes earlier in be found in the British camp established position, then it
their livelihoods. there has been no progress.” the day. (because) the original sin is means a deal is essentially
found on the islands and not on
impossible, not just now but
Mr Johnson needs a deal
Mr Sassoli said the UK leav-
“As President of ing with a deal was “by far the sorted by the end of October the continent.” ever.”
Ireland, I extend my best outcome” – but the 17/18 if he is to avoid a dilem- Speaking to the French Les The PM’s official spokesman
deepest condolences to European Parliament “will not ma over the Benn Act, which Echos newspaper, the acknowledged there had been a
his family, friends and all agree a deal at any price.” compels him to ask Brussels for European Commission presi- “frank exchange” with Mrs
those whose lives he He added: “We have exam- an extension if he cannot get an dent added: “A no-deal Brexit Merkel and that the talks had
touched in so many ways. ined the UK proposals to agreement past MPs when he would lead to a collapse of the reached a “critical point”, but
I was proud to have him replace the original backstop returns, a move he has ruled United Kingdom and a weaken- refused to be drawn any further
as a friend.” C and our response is that these out taking. ing of growth on the conti- on the “source” claims. C

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