Brexit Progress Needed for Any Chance of October Deal: Irish PM

(Bloomberg) -- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said progress on the so-called Irish border backstop deal is needed to have “any chance” of reaching a Brexit withdrawal accord in October.

Speaking in Dublin to reporters, he said remains “confident” the so-called backstop can be delivered, but there’s a “way to go yet.”

At present, the only realistic plan on the table for keeping the border clear of checks after Brexit is the EU’s backsto option, which would effectively keep Northern Ireland in the bloc’s customs union and parts of the single market if needed. That amounts to erecting a border between Northern Ireland and mainland Britain, which the U.K. considers unacceptable.

The U.K. is yet to make any firm alternative proposal, he said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dara Doyle in Dublin at ddoyle1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Vidya Root at vroot@bloomberg.net

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.