The Taoiseach is expected to meet the UK Prime Minister on the sidelines of a trade summit in Egypt today as the impasse over Brexit continues.
Leo Varadkar and Theresa May are attending the first-ever EU / Arab League summit in the resort of Sharm El Sheik this morning.
It comes after Mrs May announced plans to delay a key House of Commons vote on the Brexit withdrawal Agreement that had been due to take place this week.
The vote will now happen sometime before March 12th – just two weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU on March 29th.
She said the delay would give her the time needed to continue negotiations in Brussels – and insisted it is “still within our grasp” to leave the bloc on schedule.
Kicking the can down the road only adds to the crippling uncertainty for businesses on both sides of the channel & for millions of citizens. I have seen many surprising decisions in a lifetime in politics. But this is close to being one of the most reckless. https://t.co/PNqmJtBrnq
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) February 24, 2019
The move has face criticism in some quarters, with the European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt accusing Mrs May of "kicking the can down the road."
"Kicking the can down the road only adds to the crippling uncertainty for businesses on both sides of the channel and for millions of citizens,” he said.
"I have seen many surprising decisions in a lifetime in politics. But this is close to being one of the most reckless."
For his part, the Taoiseach said the delay “doesn’t change anything” for the EU or for Ireland.
He warned that Ireland is not “playing chicken” over the border and addressing commentators who continue to expect a time limit or a unilateral exit mechanism to the backstop he said “I don’t think there’s any more I can do to help them” if they don’t understand that it won’t happen.
He suggested the March 29th Brexit date could be extended, noting that it is a “self-imposed deadline.”
Speaking in Egypt, Mrs May said an extension would achieve little – with hard decisions required now.
“There will always come a point where we have to decide whether we accept the deal that's been negotiated or not,” she said.
“And that will be a decision for every Member of Parliament across the House.”
She may yet be forced into an extension, after three of her Cabinet ministers suggested they may back an amendment forcing a delay if there is no breakthrough in sight.
There is speculation up to 100 Tory MPs - including as many as 20 ministers - could be prepared to join them.
Mrs May also signalled her intention to stay on as Prime Minister after Brexit, a move that is likely to anger some colleagues who are hoping she will step down within months.
