A British MP has criticised some of his colleagues on their treatment of Ireland in the Brexit debate.
Alistair Burt told the House of Commons Ireland has been told to "accept another English demand that they should do something".
He was one of 21 Conservative Party members expelled for voting against the British government on plans to block a no-deal Brexit on Tuesday.
Speaking on Wednesday, he said: "Ireland treated by some here as some sort of irrelevance, a place where they have made up the border issue in order to prevent us leaving the EU.
"With our history in relation to Ireland, everything that happened there, they became our best friends in the European Union.
"And our choice to leave, our Brexit, has put them in the most catastrophic situation of any country - and we now expect them to accept another English demand that they should do something.
"Have we no understanding of what that relationship means?".
Tánaiste Simon Coveney thanked Mr Burt for his comments.
On Twitter he said: "I can assure you Ireland will work with UK and EU to find a deal that works for everyone.
"But it must be on basis of recognizing and solving the complex and very real problems that Brexit causes for [the] island of Ireland, as the [Withdrawal Agreement] does."
Thank u @AlistairBurtUK for your comments - I can assure u #Ireland will work with UK and EU to find a deal that works for everyone; but it must be on basis of recognizing and solving the complex and very real problems that #Brexit causes for Island of Ireland, as the WA does. https://t.co/jUqRBwYFzA
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) September 4, 2019
It comes as British MPs passed a draft law through the House of Commons to try to stop a no-deal Brexit in October.
The cross-party group won by 327 to 299 votes to inflict the second major defeat on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in as many days.
Their plan is to force Mr Johnson to ask Brussels to delay Brexit until January 31st 2020, if a new deal is not struck by October 19th or MPs endorse a no-deal divorce.
