Global menu

Our global pages

Close

Brexit minister unable to say what alternative to Irish backstop is

  • Ireland
  • General

04-02-2019

On 30 January 2019, the UK Brexit minister Stephen Barclay stated that the British Government is currently exploring alternative options to the Irish backstop within the Withdrawal Agreement, after the UK Parliament voted in support of renegotiating the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union.  MP’s voted to support the British Prime Minister’s Brexit deal if changes to the Northern Ireland backstop can be secured. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney subsequently stated that Brexit negotiators have spent two years looking at alternatives to the backstop and no workable alternatives had been identified.

The Irish Government has issued a statement stating that: “the EU position on the withdrawal agreement, including the backstop has not changed” and that preparations will continue for a no-deal scenario. Similar sentiments have been echoed in Europe where a spokesperson for European Council President Donald Tusk commented, “the backstop is part of the withdrawal agreement, and the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation.”

 

Sean Ryan, Partner

This information is for guidance purposes only and should not be regarded as a substitute for taking legal advice. Please refer to the full terms and conditions on our website.

< Go back

Print Friendly and PDF

© Eversheds Sutherland 2023. All rights reserved. Eversheds Sutherland is a global provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.