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BREXIT BRIEF
BRIEF
BREXIT
Brexit Brief Issue 60: 22 March 2019
Introduction
The Brief seeks to provide up-to-date information on the progress and content of the UK-EU negotiations, and
bring together relevant statements and policy positions from key players in Ireland, the UK and EU.
The Brief is part of a wider communications programme covering the work of the IIEA’s UK Project Group –
involving commentaries, speeches, texts and event reports – which are highlighted on the Institute website.
(www.iiea.com)
Section One: State of Play Commons voting to approve the Withdrawal Agreement
the following week. If the House of Commons fails to
European Council Conclusions approve the deal, the Council will grant an extension
until 12 April 2019. By this date, the UK must indicate
The European Council met on 21 March 2019 to discuss
an alternative way forward for the Council to consider.
Prime Minister Theresa May’s formal request for an
extension to Article 50. The Prime Minister had written to The Conclusions also confirmed that the Withdrawal
President Tusk on 20 March 2019 to request an extension Agreement cannot be reopened and called for work to
until 30 June 2019, in order to allow time for the House continue on preparations for a no-deal exit.
of Commons to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement and
Political Declaration on the Future Relationship. The Shortly after the Council published its conclusions, the
Council Conclusions were published on the evening of Prime Minister gave a statement in which she welcomed
21 March 2019 and stated that the Council approved the the Council approval of the legally binding assurances
Instrument relating to the Withdrawal Agreement and offered by the Commission the previous week. She
Joint Declaration supplementing the Political Declaration welcomed the extension of Article 50 until 22 May and
agreed by negotiators on 11 March 2019. urged MPs to approve the deal next week, warning that if
MPs failed to approve the deal by the 12 April date, the
The Conclusions further stated that the Council would UK could face a long extension, in which they would be
grant an extension of Article 50 until 22 May 2019 (before required to participate in the European elections in May.
the European elections), conditional on the House ofBREXIT
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Speaker Rules Out Repeat Brexit Vote • Declaration by Her Majesty’s Government of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Earlier in the week, the Speaker of the House of Commons,
Ireland concerning the Northern Ireland Protocol
John Bercow, added to the confusion surrounding
Parliament’s approach to Brexit by ruling out another • Statement by the Prime Minister that political
vote on the Prime Minister’s exit deal unless the House is agreement has been reached (for the purposes of the
given a new motion. In a surprise ruling, he said he would European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018)
not allow a third ‘Meaningful Vote’ in the coming days
on “substantially the same” motion as MPs rejected last The UK Declaration notes that the objective of the
week. Mr Bercow cited a convention dating back to 1604 Withdrawal Agreement is not to establish a permanent
that a defeated motion could not be brought back in the relationship between the EU and the UK and that the
same form during the course of a Parliamentary session. provisions of the Protocol are intended to apply only
He said the second vote on the Prime Minister’s deal last temporarily. It further states that in certain circumstances
week was “in order” as it was substantially different to the nothing in the Agreement would prevent the UK from
first, but any further votes must meet the conditions he initiating measures that could ultimately lead to the
had laid down. disapplication of obligations under the Protocol.
Second Commons Defeat A critical element in the Parliamentary consideration of
the Prime Minister’s deal was the formal Legal Opinion
On 12 March 2019, the Prime Minister put the draft on the Joint Instrument and Unilateral Declaration
Withdrawal Agreement and the Political Declaration to concerning the Withdrawal Agreement, set out by the
the House of Commons for approval for the second time, Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox, delivered in a letter on the
following its rejection on 15 January by a majority of morning of 12 March. He had considered the documents
230, 432 votes to 202, the biggest margin of defeat of a concluded with the EU in Strasbourg on 11 March: the
Government motion in Westminster history. Joint Instrument and the Unilateral Declaration which
addressed issues related to the Northern Ireland Protocol
MPs were provided with a series of papers emerging from
(The Backstop).
the Prime Minister’s engagement with the EU Negotiating
Task Force and Presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude He concluded that the Joint Instrument contained
Juncker. These included: legally binding provisions which reduced the risk that the
United Kingdom could be indefinitely and involuntarily
• Joint Statement Supplementing the Political
detained within the Protocol’s provisions but that the
Declaration Setting Out the Framework for the
legal risk remained that, “simply because of intractable
Future Relationship Between the European Union
differences” the United Kingdom “would have, at least
and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
while the fundamental circumstances remained the same,
Northern Ireland
no internationally lawful means of exiting the Protocol’s
• Instrument relating to the Agreement on the arrangements, save by agreement”. This opinion led the
Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain DUP and the European Research Group of Tory MPs to
and Northern Ireland from the European Union and indicate that they would vote against the Government
the European Atomic Energy Community. Motion.
The Government motion was rejected by a margin of
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
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149, 391 votes to 242, a better result than in January symbol of Parliament’s collective political failure” if a
but the fourth largest defeat of a Government proposal delay to Brexit meant the UK was forced to take part in
in Westminster history. While the margin of 149 was 80 the European Parliament elections in May, three years
less than the January result, it left the Prime Minister with after voting to leave the EU. She made it clear that she had
the task of switching as many as 75 MPs to her side in any much to do to convince Tory MPs who had twice voted
further vote on the deal. against the deal to switch their votes and to convince the
DUP to drop its opposition.
Immediately following the Speaker’s confirmation of the
vote, the Prime Minister expressed her profound regret Discussions are taking place with the DUP on their
and reiterated her belief that “the best outcome is that approach to a third vote on the exit deal. The Party
the UK leaves the EU in an orderly fashion with a deal has welcomed the Government’s ‘renewed focus’ on
and that the deal we have negotiated is the best and addressing its objections to the deal and indicated that it
indeed the only deal available”. She then outlined the “wanted to get a deal but it had to be the right deal”.
Government’s intentions on how to proceed, beginning
with a Government Motion to test whether the House PM in Strasbourg / Negotiations in Brussels
supports leaving the European Union without a deal on
The supplemental Joint Statement and Interpretative
29 March. There would be a free vote for MPs on the
Instrument were the product of a process of negotiation in
Government side of the House. She confirmed that, if the
Brussels between a British team (led by the Brexit Secretary,
House declined to approve leaving without a deal on 29
Steve Barclay, and involving the Attorney General,
March, there would be a motion on whether Parliament
Geoffrey Cox, and Senior Advisor, Olly Robbins) and
wished to seek an extension to Article 50. The Prime
the EU Task Force (led by the Chief Negotiator, Michel
Minister commented that “the EU will want to know
Barnier, and his deputy, Sabine Weyand), following the
what use we mean to make of such an extension. The
defeat of the deal in the House of Commons in January.
House will have to answer that question”.
The EU position was made clear from the outset with
A Third Commons Vote Michel Barnier telling the European Parliament that
The Prime Minister informed MPs that she would make a the Withdrawal Agreement “is and will remain the only
third attempt to obtain approval for the withdrawal deal, available treaty”. The initial discussions proved difficult
on 19 or 20 March, insisting that if the deal failed yet as the UK side argued for changes in the text of the
again to get the backing of the Commons there may have Agreement to provide safeguards on the Irish border
to be a lengthy delay to Brexit as alternatives are explored. question. The UK suggestions of a unilateral exit clause
from the backstop or an expiry date were rejected by
In an article in the Sunday Telegraph of 17 March, the the EU side which then offered to draw up documents
Prime Minister argued that failure to support the deal clarifying the terms of the Agreement.
would mean “we will not leave the EU for many months,
if ever”. She wrote that if Parliament votes for her The EU side offered the UK a unilateral exit from the
withdrawal deal ahead of the European Council meeting UK-wide parts of the backstop with other parts of the
on 21-22 March the UK will seek a short delay to Brexit backstop continuing to apply to Northern Ireland. This
to facilitate passage of necessary legislation. offer was unacceptable to London as it could create a
customs border along the Irish Sea, which had been ruled
The Prime Minister asserted that it would be a “potent out by the UK in previous talks.
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
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Attention then centred on the search for a legally binding reassurances on reassurances. It’s this deal or Brexit may
interpretation of the Agreement, which would underline not happen at all”.
the temporary nature of the backstop. This approach
involves an arbitration panel which could suspend some Further Commons Votes
of the UK obligations if the EU were found to have
Following the second defeat of the Withdrawal Agreement
acted in bad faith. Legal weight was given to the content
and Political Declaration the House of Commons voted
of the January letter from Presidents Tusk and Juncker,
on a number of significant motions.
affirming that the EU did not want the backstop to take
effect and that every effort should be made to conclude a On 13 March the Prime Minister suffered another defeat,
comprehensive long term agreement. this time on the issue of taking a no-deal outcome off the
table. The Government tabled a motion rejecting the no-
The negotiators concluded two documents, the Joint
deal option in respect of the 29 March deadline but the
Statement which supplemented the Political Declaration
House passed an Amendment calling for the rejection of a
on the future relationship and the legally binding
no-deal Brexit ‘at any time and under any circumstances’ by
Instrument. The package constituted real progress but
the narrow margin of 312 votes to 308. The Government,
required political agreement at the highest level and,
which had promised a free vote on its motion, then sought
for the UK, clearance by the Attorney General whose
to impose a whip against the amended text. This resulted
legal opinion would carry great weight in the House of
in a confused situation in which the amended motion was
Commons. The desirability of a Unilateral Declaration
adopted by 322 votes to 278 with as many as 12 MPs
by the UK on the key issues was recognised and drafting
defying the whip by abstaining.
began as decision time in the Commons drew near. It was
agreed that the Prime Minister would travel to Strasbourg On the following day the House rejected a motion calling
on Monday 11 March to meet Commission President for a second referendum by a huge margin – 334 votes to
Juncker who was committed to European Parliament 85. The Labour Party abstained, arguing that the proposal
business. was untimely.
The Prime Minister and the Commission President A motion tabled by the Labour Party’s Hilary Benn and
agreed the package of measures on the backstop late on Yvette Cooper and the Tory MP Oliver Letwin - designed
11 March. The text of the UK Unilateral Declaration to seize control of the Brexit process through a series of
was finally agreed following contact between Jean-Claude indicative votes on alternative outcomes – was rejected by
Juncker and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The Prime Minister 314 votes to 312.
returned to London where the assessment by the Attorney
General would prove crucial. Before boarding her plane, On 14 March, the Prime Minister succeeded in obtaining
Theresa May gave a brief press conference with Jean- the support of the House for her motion on an extension
Claude Juncker. The Prime Minister said: “the deal that of Article 50 if her deal is finally endorsed or a longer
MPs voted on in January was not strong enough […] delay if the House voted ‘no’ a third time. The motion was
and legally binding changes were needed to set that right. passed by 412 votes to 202. The Government published a
Today we have agreed them.” Jean-Claude Juncker told factual note, entitled ‘EU Exit: Parameters of Extending
the press conference that this was the last chance for MPs Article 50’ on the legal requirements, process, possible
to support the Brexit deal, and emphasised that “There extension and the role of the European Parliament.
will be no further interpretations of interpretations or
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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Irish Responses association, has called for Parliament to “stop playing
games”, The British Chambers of Commerce have stated:
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, in a statement on the latest
“Once again, businesses are left waiting for Parliament to
developments on Brexit, addressed the outcome of
reach a consensus on the way forward. In the meantime,
the May-Juncker meeting. He said that what had been
firms are continuing to enact their contingency plans,
agreed did not undermine the backstop or reopen the
anxiety amongst many businesses is rising and customers
Withdrawal Agreement.
are being lost. Businesses, jobs, investment and our
He described the Instrument agreed in Strasbourg as communities are still firmly in the danger zone”. The
putting assurances required by the UK on a legal footing British Government has acknowledged that the tariff
and representing an unambiguous statement by both regime it has announced will hurt Northern Irish business
parties of what has been agreed. He spoke of the various but argued that the need to keep the border open trumps
elements of the agreement and concluded that “the economic concerns.
options to ensure avoidance of a hard border continue to
UK Tariff Plans
correspond to those agreed as far back as the Joint report
of December 2017 which envisaged this being achieved On 13 March, the UK Government set out its pricing
by (1) a comprehensive future EU-UK relationship, (2) regime in the event that the UK exits the EU on 29 March
specific solutions or (3) in the absence of agreed solutions, without a deal. The regime envisages that tariffs will be
regulatory alignment, i.e. the backstop”. cut to zero on 87% of imports to the UK as part of a
temporary no-deal plan but that duties and levies will be
The Taoiseach argued that “We now need to see the
imposed on some imports, for example: beef, chicken and
Withdrawal Agreement ratified by Westminster and by
pork, shoes and cars. The new system would apply for a
the European Parliament without further delay, so that
period of 12 months after exit, while the UK Government
we can get on with the important work of building the
consulted and negotiated on a new, permanent approach
closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK
to tariffs.
and between the UK and Ireland, post Brexit.”
The Government also announced that, in the event of a
The Government Omnibus Bill, in preparation for the
no-deal exit, there would be no tariffs on goods moving
possibility of a no-deal outcome, was signed by President
from Ireland into Northern Ireland. There would be new
Michael D. Higgins, after completing its passage through
checks, away from the Irish border, to protect biosecurity
Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. A list of 21 pieces of
on the island of Ireland. The Government argued that
secondary legislation was published, covering issues such
it was seeking to avoid a hard border on the island and
as health, social protection and VAT. The Government’s
that there would be urgent discussions with the EU and
programme of Business Supports and Engagement and its
Ireland about longer term border arrangements.
activities in respect of Agriculture continued together with
actions on issues related to Driving and Freight Transport. The Director General of the CBI, Carolyn Fairbairn,
responded that the announcement underlined the risks
Section Two: The Evolving Debate inherent in a no-deal outcome. She stated that the change
is the biggest in terms of trade faced by the country
Business Concerns “since the mid-19th century […] with no consultation
The Chief Executive of Make UK, the UK manufacturing with business, no time to prepare.” RTÉ correspondent,
Sean Whelan, wrote that the tariff plan, and its timing,
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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was designed to pressure the Irish into abandoning the HM Government Prime Minister’s press statement in
backstop, but he suggested that it was not unreasonable Strasbourg, 11 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/
to assume the Irish Government have “war-gamed such a speeches/prime-ministers-press-statemrent-in-strasbourg-
British tactic and have a plan to deal with it”. 11-march-2019.
Northern Ireland Poll Results HM Government Prime Minister’s Speech in Grimsby,
8 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-
An Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll has produced results speech-in-grimsby-8-march-2019
which show views in Northern Ireland on Brexit which
cross the community divide. For example, 85% of voters HM Government Prime Minister: We can deliver the
from a Catholic background disapprove of the way the change you voted for. Article in the Grimsby Telegraph,
Government is running the UK, while 72% of voters from 8 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-
a Protestant background agree. 67% of voters said that we-can-deliver-the-change-you-voted-for
DUP MPs were doing a bad job representing Northern
Ireland at Westminster, with 83% of Catholics holding Prime Minister Theresa May The patriotic thing for
that opinion and 52% of Protestants in agreement. 82% MPs to do is vote for my Brexit deal. Telegraph, 17 March
of Catholics were dissatisfied with the performance of 2019. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/16/theresa-
Arlene Foster, as were 57% of Protestants. There is a high may-patriotic-thing-mps-vote-deal
degree of cross-community agreement in preferring the
HM Government EU Exit. Parameters of Extending
‘softest of soft’ version of Brexit.
Article 50, 15 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/
publications/eu-exit-parameters-of-extending-article-50
Section Three: Background Material and Further
Reading
UK Attorney General Legal Opinion on Joint Instrument
and Unilateral Declaration concerning the Withdrawal
Background Material
Agreement, 12 March 2019. www.gov.uk/ago
HM Government Prime Minister’s Letter to Donald Tusk,
20 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/publications/ Department for Exiting the European Union. A
prime-ministers-letter-to-president-tusk-20-march-2019 Government statement confirming that political agreement
has been reached on the withdrawal agreement, and the
HM Government Prime Minister’s Statement on Brexit, framework for the future relationship between the UK
20 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm- and the EU, laying these documents before Parliament,
statemdent-on-brexit-20-martch-2019. 12 March 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/
publications/11-march-withdrawal-agreement-and-
European Council Statement by President Donald Tusk political-declaration-laid-before-parliament-following-
on Brexit, 20 March 2019. www.consilium.europa.eu/en/ political-agreement
press/press-releases/2019/03/20/statement-by-president-
donald-tusk-on-brexit Department for Exiting the European Union. Letter
from Secretary of State to Michel Barnier on ring-fencing
HM Government Prime Minister’s Statement in House the citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement
of Commons, 12 March 2019. www.gov.uk/government/ whatever the outcome of negotiations, 4 March 2019. www.
speeches/pm-statement-in-the-house-of-commons-12- assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/
march-2019
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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system/uploads/attachment_data/file/783570/2019-03- March 2019. www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/13/
02_Costa_letter_-_FINAL__3___1_.pdf brexit-has-shown-establishment-bunch-small-minded-
mediocre-bullies
Financial Times May issues ultimatum after MPs ditch
no-deal Brexit,. FT, 15 March 2019. www.ft.com/ RTÉ Last ditch EU-UK package agreed on Irish
content/2fc6b504-45c5-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb Backstop. RTE, 12 March 2019. www.rte.ie/news/
brexit/2019/0312/1035805-brexit_new_measures
Financial Times UK Parliament votes overwhelmingly
to seek Brexit delay. FT, 15 March 2019. www.ft.com/ Financial Times May agrees revised Brexit deal
content/7d119ff8-4675-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb with Juncker. FT, 12 March 2019. www.ft.com/
content/16f3d25a-444e-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3
RTÉ Tusk to ask EU leaders to be open to long Brexit
extension. RTE, 14 March 2019. www.rte.ie/news/ Independent.ie The price of Brexit –DUP makes final
brexit/2019/0314/1036289-brexit demands over deal support. Independent, 16 March 2019.
www.independent.ie/business/brexit/the-price-of-brexit-
The Guardian MPs back Brexit delay as votes lay bare dup-makes-final-demands-over-deal-support-37919684.
cabinet divisions. Guardian,, 14 March 2019. www. html
theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/14/mps-vote-by-
majority-of-210-to-extend-article-50-and-delay-brexit BBC Brexit: DUP welcomes ‘renewed focus’ on their
concerns after talks. BBC, 15 March 2019. www.bbc.
Financial Times UK sets out trade plans to limit no-deal com/news/uk-politics-47586694
Brexit damage. FT, 13 March 2019. www.ft.com/content/
d05189c8-455b-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb BBC Brexit: Will EU leaders agree to an extension?
BBC, 15 March 2019. www.bbc.com/news/world-
The Guardian UK will cut most tariffs to zero in event europe-47578449
of no-deal Brexit. Guardian, 13 March 2019. www.
theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/brexit-tariffs-on- Financial Times EU sets out July 1 Deadline in
87-of-uk-imports-cut-to-zero-in-temporary-no-deal-plan Brexit delay plans. FT, 16 March 2019. www.ft.com/
content/030dce3c-4749-11e9-a965-23d669740bfb
BBC Brexit: PM to bring third Brexit deal vote to
Commons. BBC, 14 March 2019. www.bbc.com/news/ Irish Times British government acknowledges regime will
uk-politics-47564793 hurt North’s businesses. IT, 13 March 2019. www.irishtimes.
com/news/politics/british-government-acknowledges-
RTÉ EU considers call for Brexit delay before summit. RTE, regime-will-hurt-north-s-businesses-1.3824076
15 March 2019. www.rte.ie/brexit/2019/0315/1036524-
article-50-extension RTÉ Barnier offers Britain unilateral exit from
customs union. RTE, 8 March 2019. www.rte.ie/news/
RTÉ Withdrawal Agreement is only orderly way out for brexit/2019/0308/1035221-brexit-barnier
UK, says Barnier. RTE, 13 March 2019. www.rte.ire/
news/brexit/2019/0313/1036070-brexit-europe Financial Times EU offers new Brexit backstop plan. FT,
9 March 2019. www.ft.com/content/048107c6-41bc-
The Telegraph Brexit has shown up the Establishment as 11e9-b896-fe36ec32aece
a bunch of smallminded, mediocre bullies. Telegraph, 13
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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BBC Brexit secretary accuses EU of trying to ‘rerun old one option left: compromise. Guardian, 14 March 2019.
arguments.’ BBC, 9 March 2019. www.bbc.com/news/ www.theguardian.com/comment-is-free/2019/mar/14/
uk-47506139 brexit-option-compromise-referendum-vote-theresa-
may-labour
The Telegraph Mrs May is responsible for losing control
of Brexit. Telegraph, 14 March 2019. www.telegraph. The Guardian EU faces nationalist ‘nightmare’ in next
co.uk/politics/2019/03/13/mrs-may-responsible-losing- five years, says Verhofstadt. Guardian, 5 March 2019.
control-brexit www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/05/eu-faces-
nationalist-nightmare-in-next-five-years-says-verhofstadt
Observer The Observer view on the case for a second Brexit
vote remaining as strong as ever. Observer, 10 March 2019. Financial Times Business highlights worries over Brexit
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/10/ delay. FT, 15 March 2019. www.ft.com/content/
observer-view-on-the-case-for-a-second-brexit-vote- ce57c328-468f-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3
remaining-as-strong-as-ever
Government of Ireland Government Brexit Update, 8
Owen Paterson I still won’t back Mrs May’s deal – March 2019. www.gov.ie/brexit
because it’s not Brexit. Telegraph, 16 March 2019. www.
telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/03/16/still-wont-bavck- Government of Ireland Government Brexit Update, 12
mrs-mays-deal-not-brexit March 2019. www.gov.ie/brexit
The Guardian EU on no-deal Brexit motion: ‘Like Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Statement by An Taoiseach, Leo
Titanic voting for iceberg to move’. Guardian, 13 March Varadkar, on latest developments on Brexit. Merrion Street,
2019. www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/eu- 12 March 2019. www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/
extend-brexit-talks-complete-barnier-brussels-assurance News/Statement_by_An_Taoiseach_Leo_Varadkar_on_
latest_developments_on_Brexit_Government_Buildings
RTÉ History will judge UK, EU badly if they get Brexit
wrong, warns Hunt. RTE, 8 March 2019. www.rte.ie/ The Guardian Revised Brexit deal does not undermine
news/brexit/2019/0308/1035069-brexit backstop, says Irish PM. Guardian, 12 March 2019.
www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/12/revised-
Financial Times After Brexit, Britain will be a rule-taker. brexit-deal-does-not-undermine-backstop-sayspirish-pm-
FT, 8 March 2019. www.ft.com/content/67701b76- leo-varadkar
4007-11e9-9bee-efab61506f44
Tony Connelly How the backstop deal was done – and
Irish Times Ulster Unionist Party leader says NI will not be why Cox blew it apart. RTE, 16 March 2019. www.rte.
EU ‘dowry’ for Brexit delivery. IT, 10 March 2019. www. ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2019/0315/1036688-
irishtimes.com/politics/ulster-unionist-party-leader-says- backstop-deal-cox
ni-will-not-be-eu-dowry-for-brexit-delivery-1.3820619
Tony Connelly Brexit: The Cox Gambit, the
Tony Barber Brexit confusion has roots in decades of Barnier Response, and the Blame Game begins.
mutual suspicion, FT, 15 March 2019. www.ft.com/ RTE, 9 March 2019. www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-
content/d473a4b6-4676-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3 comment/2019/0308/1035261-brexit-tony-connelly
Simon Jenkins With Brexit now on hold, there’s only Irish Times Irish Times poll: DUP at odds with its base
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.BREXIT
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over Brexit approach, IT, 8 March 2019. www.irishtimes.
com/news/politics/irish-times-poll-dup-at-odds-with-its-
base-over-brexit-approach-1.3818272
Sean Whelan Tariff proposals designed to put pressure on
Irish Government. RTE, 13 March 2019. www.rt.ie/
news/brexit/2019/0313/1036097-sean-whelan-tariffs
Irish Times No new checks on goods moving across
Border to Northern Ireland in no-deal Brexit. IT, 13
March 2019. www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-
news/no-new-checks-on- goods-moving-across-border-
to-northern-irelnd-in-no-deal-brexit-1.3824065
Brigid Laffan UK realising EU is dominant power in
Europe and Brexit will be on its terms. IT, 8 March
2019. www.irishtimes.com/opinion/uk-realising-eu-is-
dominant-power-in-europe-and-brexit-will-be-on-its-
terms-1.3818132
Irish Times Ireland will soon have difficult decisions to
make on the Border. IT, 14 March 2019. www.irishtimes.
com/opinion/ireland-will-soon-have-difficult-decisions-
to-make-onthe-border-1.3824818
Fiona Mitchell The meaningful vote, once more,
with feeling. RTE, 11 March 2019. www.rte.ie/
news/2019/0310/1035560-fiona-mitchell
RTÉ UK seems to be reneging on Brexit deal –
Flanagan. RTE, 11 March 2019. www.rte.ie/news/
brexit/2019/0310/1035486-brexit-ireland
Fiona Mitchell Could it be third time lucky for May’s
Brexit deal? RTE, 14 March 2019, www.rte.ie/news/
brexit/2019/0314/1036328-fiona-mitchell-brexit
Further Reading
Bobby McDonagh Original Sin in a Brave New World.
Institute of European Affairs
As an independent forum, the Institute does not express any opinions of its own. The views expressed in the article are the sole
responsibility of the author.The Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) is Ireland’s leading international affairs think tank. Founded in 1991, its mission is to
foster and shape political, policy and public discourse in order to broaden awareness of international and European issues in Ireland and contribute
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