The Taoiseach has said anyone hoping the EU will break solidarity with Ireland on the Brexit  border backstop is "in for a nasty surprise."

Leo Varadkar was speaking at an All-Island Forum on Brexit in Dublin.

He warned that, with exactly six weeks to go until the UK leaves the EU, Ireland's position remains the same and will not be changing.

He said the UK has yet to offer any alternative to the backstop.

"One of the most striking things about what has unfolded since the UKs decision to leave has been the remarkable solidarity from the EU side," he said.

"Despite many attempts to bilateralise issues or to divide the 27, the solidarity has been strong and resolute and those who think it will break at the last moment are in for a nasty surprise."

"I explained to [European Commission] president [Jean-Claude] Juncker the assistance Ireland will require in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

"For his part he emphasised that the EU stands ready to help Ireland in finding and funding the specific solutions to the challenges we might face."

Leo Varadkar’s said people are in for “a nasty surprise” if they think Ireland will blink first in the #Brexit negotiations pic.twitter.com/ezyZBFda6x

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 15, 2019

'No deal'

Earlier, the Tánaiste warned that there is an "influential minority" in Westminster that wants to see the UK crash out without a deal.

Simon Coveney was speaking after the UK Prime Minister Theresa May suffered another defeat in the House of Commons on her Brexit strategy.

The amendment asked the House of Commons to 'reiterate its support' for the Brexit strategy it backed in a vote at the end of last month.

However, hard-line Tory MPs abstained from the vote for fear that backing it may inadvertently rule out a 'no deal' Brexit.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney discusses Brexit a meeting of the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin, 30-01-2019. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images

"Corrosive impact"

Speaking on his way into the meeting of political leaders from the north and south of Ireland this morning, Minister Coveney said the vote underlines the fact that the House of Commons is unclear about how it wants to move the process forward.

"There does not seem to be a majority of MPs asking for anything specific," he said. "That of course is frustrating from an Irish perspective and from an EU perspective."

"We are still waiting for a specific ask from the British Government - which we have not got in recent weeks.

"I think what is clear now from the vote last night is that there is a caucus in Westminster that actually want to see a no deal Brexit.

"That is a real concern.

"I think it is a small minority within Westminster but certainly it is an influential minority that can have a very corrosive impact on the ability to get a sensible outcome here that is good for Britain, is good for Ireland and that recognises the reasonable asks of the EU as well."

The UK will leave the EU on March 29th.

Tánaiste Simon Coveney says votes in the Commons last night show there is clearly a caucus in Westminster that wants a no-deal Brexit. He describes it as a small but influential minority #Brexit pic.twitter.com/X8rbIIlLDb

— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) February 15, 2019