UK at 'impasse' on Brexit talks, Ireland's foreign minister warns
Boris Johnson is told greater clarity is needed on the UK's border with Ireland before talks can move on to trade.
Friday 17 November 2017 13:36, UK
"Serious issues" concerning the UK-Irish border after Brexit mean trade talks should be delayed and a five-year transition period implemented, Ireland's foreign minister has said.
Simon Coveney said it was "possible" for a "framework agreement" to be agreed on future UK-EU relations in the next 12 months but said a final divorce deal would take "a number of years".
His remarks, at a news conference in front of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, could spark fresh fears over the progress of Brexit talks.
Having first revealed that he backed a five-year transition 10 days ago, Mr Coveney repeated the claim on Friday - much to the surprise of Mr Johnson.
Asked for his reaction, the Foreign Secretary said: "Well I must confess that I wasn't aware of the proposal from Simon for such a long transitional period.
"But I think I understand the sentiment behind it which is that everybody wants to have the maximum possible reassurance. I think it's possible to do that within a much shorter timescale."
The admission sparked anger from some, one Labour source branding it a "blunder" that showed he was "simply not up to the job".
Foreign Affairs Committee member Chris Bryant also said it was "inconceivable" Mr Johnson did not know or had not been briefed on Ireland's position.
Meanwhile, Open Britain supporter Ben Bradshaw told Sky News: "It is astounding that Boris Johnson was unaware of the Irish government's position, given Ireland's central importance in the Brexit talks.
"Not only does Mr Johnson fail to read his official briefs, he clearly doesn't read the newspapers.
"His cavalier and slapdash approach is typical of this Government's amateurish and damaging approach to Brexit."
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An energetic Mr Johnson later quipped that it was time to get on to the "meat" of negotiations.
This appeared to rile Mr Coveney, who said the border issue preventing talks moving on to trade were very much the "meat" of discussions.
He added there were "very serious issues" that the UK needed to "be a lot clearer" on, describing the current state of negotiations as an "impasse".
Sky News has contacted Mr Johnson and the Foreign Office for clarification on what they knew of Ireland's position on the transition period.
It came amid conflicting reports of Prime Minister Theresa May's meeting with her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar at an EU summit.
Downing Street said both leaders held "constructive" talks, agreeing to "work together to find solutions" to the border issue.