Growing fears that Brexit talks are set to collapse
Leo Varadkar says Ireland must prepare itself for UK exiting without agreement
Michel Barnier, chief negotiator for the European Union: the EU is drawing up contingency plans for the possible collapse of Britain’s departure talks. Photograph: Dario Pignatelli/Bloomberg
There were warnings of a “no deal” Brexit in Dublin, London and Brussels on Sunday as fears grow that the EU-UK talks will fail to reach agreement on the terms of the UK’s exit from the union.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was optimistic a deal would be reached but also warned Ireland needs to make preparations for a situation where Britain crashes out of the union in 2019.