Brexit

A DFDS ferry on a British Channel route. The Danish shipping line is to operate a new daily service between Rosslare Europort and Dunkirk that will bypass the UK. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP New direct ferry to Dunkirk will be valuable entry point for lorries to Europe after Brexit

Danish shipping line to run daily service to French port from Rosslare

From the start of next year, Irish businesses will have to file customs declarations to be able to continue trading with Britain and to ensure their goods are permitted on in-bound ferries. Photograph: Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Bloomberg Government steps up calls for firms to get ready for Brexit
Sir Declan Morgan, Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Judges must be seen to be able to ‘speak truth to power’, North’s Chief Justice says

The report says unification could arise only through referendums on both sides of the Border and these could be held on the same day. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg Voting on Irish unity without follow-up plan poses grave risks – study
The British financial industry had hoped to retain its so-called passport. Photograph: iStock Move to EU or face disruption, City of London is warned
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney TD arrives at the Convention Centre in Dublin were the Dáil is sitting. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell/The Irish Times Ireland ‘will do well’ out of €5 billion Brexit fund, says Coveney
Holyhead: For many Irish companies this will be the first time they have exported outside of the EU. Cliff Taylor: Deal or no deal we are now heading for a hard Brexit
French fishermen from Granville fishing in UK waters. Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images Ireland could lose out as France lays claim to most of €5bn Brexit compensation fund
US president-elect Joe Biden with secretary of state nominee Antony Blinken, who fully subscribes to the notion of Brexit breaching the Belfast Agreement. Photograph: Mark Makela/Getty Images Newton Emerson: Unionists should declare Ireland is worked out, Biden can keep it that way
Simon Coveney said ‘it is the most appropriate approach given the complexities over the challenge we face’. Dáil passes significant Bill aimed at mitigating impact of Brexit
Fears of food shortages will result in panic buying in the North as there had been because of Covid, Doug Beattie told Stormont committee. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty North faces ‘civil unrest’ over fears of Brexit food shortages, committee hears
European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 25th, 2020. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/AFP/Getty Images. Brexit deal uncertain while next few days are ‘decisive’, Von der Leyen says

EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier: Britain seeking to “allow the UK to source goods from around the world and export them, with very little alteration to the EU as British goods, tariff-and quota-free” Photograph: Ben Stansall Mixed-origin products pose Brexit talks difficulty
US President-elect Joe Biden talks to the media after neeting with members of his cabinet at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware. Photograph: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images Joe Biden does not want to see guarded Border in Ireland after Brexit
Under EU rules there are restrictions on certain meat products, such as sausages, from outside the European Union. Brexit: Rush for last-minute deal to let sausages into North
The City of London. City of London makes late scramble to limit Brexit disruption
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/WPA Pool/Getty No-deal Brexit worse for UK economy than pandemic, says regulator
Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a visit to Dublin Port to meet with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and the Office of Public Works to view the work taking place ahead of Brexit. Photograp: James Ward/PA Wire Taoiseach concerned at ‘complacency’ of some firms over Brexit preparation
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French fishermen from Granville fishing in UK waters. Photograph: Siegfried Modola/Getty Images Ireland could lose out as France lays claim to most of €5bn Brexit compensation fund
Simon Coveney said ‘it is the most appropriate approach given the complexities over the challenge we face’. Dáil passes significant Bill aimed at mitigating impact of Brexit
Fears of food shortages will result in panic buying in the North as there had been because of Covid, Doug Beattie told Stormont committee. Photograph: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty North faces ‘civil unrest’ over fears of Brexit food shortages, committee hears
European Commission president Ursula Von Der Leyen speaks at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 25th, 2020. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/AFP/Getty Images. Brexit deal uncertain while next few days are ‘decisive’, Von der Leyen says
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier: Britain seeking to “allow the UK to source goods from around the world and export them, with very little alteration to the EU as British goods, tariff-and quota-free” Photograph: Ben Stansall Mixed-origin products pose Brexit talks difficulty
US President-elect Joe Biden talks to the media after neeting with members of his cabinet at the Queen in Wilmington, Delaware. Photograph: CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images Joe Biden does not want to see guarded Border in Ireland after Brexit
Under EU rules there are restrictions on certain meat products, such as sausages, from outside the European Union. Brexit: Rush for last-minute deal to let sausages into North
The City of London. City of London makes late scramble to limit Brexit disruption
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/WPA Pool/Getty No-deal Brexit worse for UK economy than pandemic, says regulator
Taoiseach Micheal Martin during a visit to Dublin Port to meet with officials from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and the Office of Public Works to view the work taking place ahead of Brexit. Photograp: James Ward/PA Wire Taoiseach concerned at ‘complacency’ of some firms over Brexit preparation
Trucking companies have raised concerns at the lack of a back-up plan if the IT system, that will begin processing paperwork, is overwhelmed by demand when it goes live. File photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA EU transport companies fear chaos through Britain on January 1st
Gerard O’Hare: he expects “substantial delays” to the large volume of food imports coming from Britain due to EU health checks. Photograph: Ciara Wilkinson Call for businesses to be given grace period to implement Brexit changes
Simon Coveney: ‘We just don’t know yet whether the British prime minister has made the decision to instruct his chief negotiator to close this deal out.’ Photograph: Julien Behal Brexit: Coveney sounds note of caution over chances of deal
Belgium, France and the Netherlands have called on the European Commission to accelerate contingency planning for the possibility that a Brexit trade deal cannot be struck. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Brexit: EU countries call for acceleration of no-deal contingency plans
Containers being unloaded at Dublin Port. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Brexit border checks may cause Dublin traffic problems
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier: he has had to go into self-isolation after one of his Brexit negotiating team tested positive for Covid-19. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images Brexit talks suspended after negotiator tests positive for Covid-19
US president-elect Joe Biden leaves the Queen Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, following a virtual roundtable with frontline healthcare workers on Wednesday. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Top human rights bodies warn Joe Biden on Brexit threats to Belfast Agreement
Containers at Belfast Harbour. Aodhán Connolly from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said a no-deal outcome to the trade talks would affect the North’s food exports to Britain. Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Grace period needed to implement NI protocol, say business leaders
Economist Jim Power said the VAT refund scheme contributes €108 million to the economy, with a large proportion of this spent outside Dublin Tourist VAT refund threshold ‘wholly inadequate’
Containers at Belfast Harbour. Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Brexit: Some Irish firms ‘have not thought through implications’
Former US president Bill Clinton with John Hume in Dublin, 2005. Photograph: Joe St Leger Brexit talks creating ‘tremendous uncertainty’ in NI, says Bill Clinton
Concerns have been raised about ‘the whole traffic management’ in the port and how State authorities were only now testing how the traffic would flow through the system less than 50 days until the end of the transition period when post-Brexit border checks come into effect. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Dublin Port and Stena clash over Brexit border checks ‘in the wrong place’
“The area of biggest concern would be Northern Ireland, where some of this infrastructure has to be in place from January 1st, and that is currently very challenging.” Photograph: Getty Images North’s ports will find it ‘very challenging’ to be ready for Brexit changes
UK prime minister’s Europe adviser David Frost at post-Brexit trade deal talks in Brussels. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/AFP/Getty Images. Brexit talks enter difficult phase as Coveney says ‘we’re running out of time’
If you are resident in Ireland and using a UK licence to drive it will no longer be valid to drive in Ireland after December 31st. Photograph: Getty Images Brexit: 15,000 drivers with UK licences face being put off the road
Ireland already has consulates general in Edinburgh (premises pictured above) and in Cardiff. File photograph: Google Street View Ireland to open new consular office in Manchester to help cope with Brexit
Simon Coveney appears on Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News, on Sunday morning Brexit: EU will not ratify deal if UK tries to break international law, says Coveney
Dominic Cummings leaves 10 Downing Street with a box, following reports that he is set to leave his position by the end of the year. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA Dominic Cummings departure means ‘Brexit sell-out’, says Nigel Farage
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in London on Friday for negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images Brexit: Trade fears mount as breakthrough in EU-UK talks proves elusive
Dominic Cummings masterminded the 2016 Brexit referendum vote and Johnson’s 2019 landslide election bid. Photograph: Tolga Akmen /AFP Dominic Cummings to resign as Johnson’s senior adviser by year end
A Government briefing document says ‘traders should consider switching to direct route options where feasible’ to continental Europe given expected delays with the UK landbridge from January 1st. Photograph: Getty Images More than 3,000 businesses ‘gone bust’ since March, Dáil told
City of London: an equivalence decision would be a declaration that supervision and regulations in the UK are effectively as good as those of the EU. Photograph: iStock Brexit: EU warns market access uncertain for City of London
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also said the UK needed to be “very careful that they do not do anything that could destabilise the politics of Northern Ireland”. File photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire No-deal Brexit ‘ruinous’ for Britain and Ireland, Micheál Martin tells BBC
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney: “If we don’t have a deal this time next week, I think we have problems.” Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Coveney: We have a week to do a Brexit trade deal with UK
Warehouse space let in the Republic rose 50 per cent in the third quarter from the second. Photograph: iStock Brexit: UK food groups race for Irish stockpiling space
Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s former chief of staff, said the UK government deliberately included controversial clauses in its Internal Market Bill, as a bargaining ploy. UK on course for ‘significant rift’ with US over Brexit
Rosslare Harbour. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien Brexit: Fears for flow of goods to and from State from January 1st
Simon Coveney: he will warn Ministers that with only 51 days to go until the last day of the transition period, there are growing fears about UK preparedness. Photograph: Getty Images Brexit talks: Warning for Cabinet over Biden win leading to false confidence
Conservative Party peer Michael Howard: backed amendments that would remove treaty-breaking clauses from the Bill. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images Johnson suffers heavy defeat in House of Lords over Internal Market Bill
EU-UK border checks from January mean that transport companies and hauliers face delays at British ports on the Irish Sea and English Channel, potentially disrupting the fastest and cheapest transit route currently between Ireland and mainland Europe. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien Brexit: Shipping lines will set up new routes to Europe to meet demand, says State agency
Simon Coveney said the election victory by Joe Biden (above) should help ensure ‘Irish issues are prioritised’ in the Brexit talks. Photograph: AP Biden win should focus British minds on Brexit strategy, says Coveney
Liz Truss, the UK’s international trade secretary, hopes that an agreement can be signed with Canada. UK set to fall short in race to replace EU trade deals
UK prime minister Boris Johnson with partner Carrie Symonds: “I’ve always been a great enthusiast for a trade deal with our European friends and partners.” Photograph: Chris Jackson/PA Brexit: Johnson rules out changing ‘law-breaking’ Bill after Biden victory
European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Significant differences remain in Brexit talks as UK-EU vow to step up efforts
Officials see the intervention by Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen as a positive move that could inject momentum into the faltering talks and give political guidance for the days ahead. Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen to talk as crucial Brexit week looms
Companies will need to submit customs declarations from January when the UK’s transition period ends. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Irish businesses told not to wait for trade deal to prepare for Brexit
British ministers have warned that 7,000 trucks could be held in queues if traders are not ready for Brexit. Photograph: Jason Alden/Bloomberg North will not be ready for post-Brexit trade checks – watchdog
Stena and Irish Ferries will start running the new direct services from Dublin and Rosslare to Cherbourg in France to provide hauliers with a frequent service with continental Europe. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Daily ferries to France starting from January to bypass Brexit congestion
Mick Mulvaney, the US president’s special envoy for Northern Ireland, said Mr Coveney told him during a private meeting in September that the EU could use commercial aviation as a lever. Photograph: Jim lo Scalzo/EPA Brexit: US envoy claims Coveney said EU could make ‘life very difficult’ for UK airlines
Up to one-third of the State’s food exports could be knocked out if the EU and the UK fail to reach a deal Food industry facing triple threat: Brexit, Covid and UK recession
Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier: no certainty a deal can be clinched by a mid-November deadline. Photograph: Francisco Seco/AP Barnier says no deal in sight with UK as last chance looms
PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne. File photograph: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press Processing extradition warrants after Brexit could take a year, chief constable warns
DUP Minister for Agriculture Edwin Poots has warned that ‘Northern Ireland plc’ could be badly damaged by the Northern Ireland protocol in the UK-EU Brexit withdrawal agreement. File photograph: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images Northern Ireland protocol is ‘extremely damaging’, DUP Minister warns
The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, departing his hotel in London last week before heading back to Brussels. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Brexit talks could stretch beyond this week as EU and UK seek trade deal
Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off aired a special Japan-themed episode this week. Photograph: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions Bake-off soy sauce tweet backfires for UK trade ministry
Boris Johnson pulls down his face covering to take a drink as he sits with hospital workers during his visit to Royal Berkshire NHS Hospital in Reading on Monday. Photograph: Jeremy Selwyn/AFT/Getty Images Johnson’s Brexit Bill set to be blocked by House of Lords
“There simply isn’t time to reach a comprehensive free-trade agreement in services and a no-deal Brexit would mean limited ability for trade in services if occurring under World Trade Organisation rules.” Photograph: iStock Brexit to curb services trade with UK, accountants group warns
The threats of the pandemic and Brexit were to the fore, with the entire country moving to Level 3 of the State’s Covid-19 restrictions at the time of the survey. Photograph: Alan Betson Brexit and Covid force consumer sentiment to lowest level
Former president Mary McAleese: Belfast Agreement has not been “road-tested” against Brexit or a referendum on partition. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw McAleese warns of potential Brexit toll on Belfast Agreement
Leo Varadkar: ‘I know how tough this year has been for business.’ Photograph: Julien Behal ‘Brexit readiness’ tool launched for Irish business amid trade talks impasse
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney: urged businesses to prepare for Brexit, saying they should see the €3.4 billion of “scarce taxpayers’ money” the Government has earmarked for economic recovery post-Brexit as a sign that it sees the possibility of a “no trade deal Brexit” as a “very real risk”. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Brexit trade deal is ‘doable but difficult’, says Coveney
Michel Barnier referred to British “sovereignty” several times and called it “a legitimate concern of the government of Boris Johnson”. Photograph: EPA Brexit: UK and EU agree to intensify talks in rush for deal
Michel Barnier at the European Parliament in Brussels: “Our door remains open, and will remain until the last practical day for working together.” Photograph: Olivier Hoslet, Pool via AP Brexit: Michel Barnier urges talks, saying deal ‘within reach’
Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson: scale of the defeeat was a serious blow to the government. Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP via Getty Images) Brexit: UK government suffers heavy defeat over ‘law-breaking’ Bill in House of Lords
Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson: “He is a prime minister with advisers out of control, looking for political stunts to reinforce the insurgent nature of Brexit, happy to sacrifice the rule of law...” Photograph: Eddie Mulholland Bill that overrides UK’s Brexit deal denounced in House of Lords
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic (centre) arrives at London St Pancras station on Monday. Photograph: Tolga Akmem /AFP EU agrees to intensify talks on post-Brexit deal
CLdN operates the MV Celine ship out of Dublin where it was launched in 2018. Photograph: Cyril Byrne ‘Brexit buster’ can ‘dramatically’ increase direct ferries to Europe
Britain’s chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove speaks during an appearance on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show in London. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/AFP via Getty Images Brexit negotiators to discuss structure of EU-UK trade negotiations
British minister Michael Gove on Sunday left room for talks to get a trade deal in order to prevent the high trade tariffs the UK faces from December 31st when the transition period ends. File photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters. Brexit: Michael Gove leaves door ‘ajar’ for trade talks with EU
British prime minister Boris Johnson. More than 70 British business groups have urged politicians to return to the table next week to strike a trade deal between the EU and UK. Photograph: Downing Street /PA Wire British business groups sound alarm over no-deal Brexit
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier: he wrote to his British counterpart David Frost on Friday offering to resume talks in London on Monday. Photograph: Bloomberg Downing St accuses EU of ending trade talks by taking uncompromising position
British prime minister Boris Johnson. Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon condemned what she described as Mr Johnson’s reckless approach to the negotiations. Photograph: PA Wire EU and British negotiators agree to continue trade talks next week
A screengrab of Boris Johnson’s statement to broadcasters on Friday afternoon. Photograph: Downing Street /PA Brexit: Boris Johnson says UK will now prepare for no trade deal
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier alonside European Council president Charles Michel at the EU summit in Brussels yesterday. Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Brexit: EU says UK needs to compromise to break talks deadlock
EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier: ‘We are determined reach a fair deal with the UK. We will do everything we can, but not at any price.’ Photograph: Francisco Seco/Pool/AFP via Getty EU-UK Brexit talks on knife edge as Barnier says deal cannot be ‘at any price’
Simon Coveney: he said the migratory nature of fish stocks meant they belonged to everyone and needed to be managed effectively as a resource. Photograph: Getty Images Coveney says Europe’s fishing industry will not be sacrificed for UK trade deal
In a call with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, above, and European Council president Charles Michel on Wednesday night, Boris Johnson said he would reflect before setting out the UK’s next steps in the light of his statement of September 7th. Photograph: AP Boris Johnson repeats threat to walk away from EU talks
Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar: ‘There is so much unbelievable uncertainty facing Irish citizens and companies because of Brexit and Covid.’ Photograph: Tom Honan/Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire Budget 2021: €5.5bn set aside due to Covid-19 and Brexit uncertainty
There is €340m committed to Brexit-related spending next year, including on compliance required at ports and airports after the UK’s departure comes into effect on January 1st. File photograph: Alan Betson Record budget designed to limit fallout from a no-deal Brexit
European Commission’s Michel Barnier and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney: not enough progress to reach a deal with London. Photograph: Virginia Mayo EU states intensify ‘no-deal’ Brexit preparations
William Hague: “Somehow I went from being the outer edge of Euroscepticism to being a pragmatic centrist without moving.” Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Former Tory leader says ‘late, thin’ EU-UK trade deal ‘best prospect’ now
The UK’s announcement last month that it would unilaterally rewrite parts of the Brexit divorce agreement has stoked distrust of Boris Johnson in EU capitals. Photograph: Toby Melville/PA Wire EU leaders to prepare for potential collapse of UK trade talks
EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier departs at the terminal Eurostar in St Pancras Station in London. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA Brexit: EU seeks British concessions to clinch trade deal
Lorries at Dover due to industrial action in Calais: ‘I think we would be naive to think that they are just going to wave Irish trucks to the front of the queue out of some kind of good will gesture,’ the Minister for Foreign Affairs said. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Government may subsidise direct ferry routes to EU post-Brexit, says Coveney
European Council president Charles Michel said, after his call with Boris Johnson, that it was ‘time for the UK to put its cards on the table’. Photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA Boris Johnson looks set for compromise on Brexit deal
Britain had promised its own fleet of trawlers it would be able to catch more stocks after the country left the EU. Photograph: iStock Brexit: British fishing rights stance ‘ridiculously simplistic’ – Coveney
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that it was “very concerning” that there was “still a way to go” to reach a deal between the EU and UK. Photograph: Alan Betson State may need ‘fallback’ deal with UK post-Brexit for cross-Border policing
‘The future relationship between the UK and the European Union will be the focus of debate and negotiation for many years to come’ Brexit: Ireland’s major churches appeal to UK and EU for clarity
Glenn Carr, general manager of Rosslare Europort. He says hauliers want certainty and frequency beyond a three-days-a-week service Rosslare port in talks for new daily direct ferry service to continental Europe
British prime minister Boris Johnson being interviewed on Sunday by host Andrew Marr on The Andrew Marr Show. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/PA Wire Britain 'can live' with no deal, says Johnson
A file image of Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen: They have asked their negotiators to work ‘intensively’ to bridge gaps between the sides. Photograph: Getty Johnson and von der Leyen agree importance of finding Brexit deal
Britain’s prime minister Boris Johnson has mooted an idea of a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland several times. Photograph: AFP Feasibility of bridge or tunnel between North and Scotland to be examined
British prime minister Boris Johnson and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who will meet on a video call on Saturday. File photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Brexit: Von der Leyen meeting will be no walk in the park for Johnson
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the EU summit in Brussels on Friday. Photograph: Olivier Matthys, Pool/AP EU seeks movement from UK as talks enter crucial phase