The Taoiseach has dismissed any suggestion of customs checks in the Irish Sea.
It follows comments by the Tánaiste, Simon Coveney who was overheard telling the Transport Minister that there will have to be checks in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Meanwhile, after the withdrawal deal was crushed in the House of Commons last night, Clare’s Junior Minister is warning of a challenging year ahead for businesses here.
The EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator says the risk of a no-deal outcome is now higher than ever before.
British MPs voted by a majority of 230 last night to reject the draft deal – and Theresa May is now facing a motion of no confidence in her government.
The EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, says he “profoundly regrets” last night’s result – and is calling for clarity from the UK on its plans.
The fall out from last night’s vote is being discussed by political leaders on both sides of the Irish Sea this afternoon.
Here at home, the Taoiseach says he’s disappointed at last night’s vote in the House of Commons and that he doesn’t think a change of Prime Minister would be helpful.
Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil there is no secret plan to introduce a hard border with Northern Ireland and has dismissed any suggestion of checks in the Irish Sea.
Clare’s Junior Minister believes anything could happen over the coming days, saying the ball is firmly in the British Parliament’s court.
Fine Gael’s Pat Breen says the Irish Government will be monitoring developments across the Irish Sea very closely, particularly over the coming days.
He believes last night’s vote has compounded the uncertainty surrounding Britain’s exit from the EU and he says efforts to prepare businesses for every eventuality will continue.
Meanwhile, in London, Theresa May faces another key Westminster vote today.
However, unlike last night, it is expected that her government will emerge victorious from today’s motion of no confidence.
Shortly after her crushing defeat in the House of Commons last night, Theresa May invited a motion of no confidence from Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn, in the knowledge that one was likely coming anyways.
He duly tabled the motion, saying Mrs. May’s government has to go.
But it seems Mrs. May’s government will survive.
She has the backing of the DUP and – it seems – the 118 Tory rebels who voted against her deal last night.
Debates on the motion are beginning now, and voting is expected after 7:00 tonight.
Questions are also being asked in the UK as to what now for Brexit, with the withdrawal deal apparently dead in the water.
Some senior Labour figures will push for a second referendum, in the event that a general election is not forced today.
Theresa May is against this, and is refusing to budge.
The Prime Minster will reach out to cross-party MPs in the coming days as she draws up her plan on where to take Brexit from here.
She has to outline those plans to the House of Commons by Monday.
