Brexit: Ireland steps up preparations and stands ready in case of no deal

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In Ireland, the Council of Ministers put back on the table this Friday May 29 an old dossier: Brexit. The United Kingdom is the island's main trading partner. However, trade negotiations are about to end in late June, and London has already warned that there will be no deadline this time. The Irish government is therefore preparing for a “no deal”.

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With our correspondent in Dublin, Emeline Vin

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney says preparations must be made for trade negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom to progress little further by the end of June. 

At the exit of the Council of Ministers, the head of government Leo Varadkar followed his advice: the executive will dust off his plans developed last year to deal with a Brexit without agreement. The ports, in particular the carriers, had started to prepare, from a financial and administrative point of view. These preparations will have to be brought out, updated or even accelerated.

There are two scenarios on the table: a failure of trade negotiations, and a return of tariffs, or a very limited free trade agreement.

A new “omnibus law” is also being planned. In 2019, the government had already developed such a text, so called because it covers many sectors. This time, the law will have to cover the budgetary needs of eight ministries. It will be presented to Parliament in the summer, after the announced end of trade negotiations with the United Kingdom.

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• Ireland
• United Kingdom
• Brexit
• Economy

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