EU Council President Jean Claude Junker addressed both Houses of the Oireachtas in a join session on Thursday.
The colourful EU bureaucrat told the members of the Dáil and Seanad that Ireland has the backing of the entire EU in Brexit negotiations with the UK over the border between the Republic and the North.
Eurosceptics however, were quick to point out that the EU was not backing Ireland after we voted no to Nice and Lisbon, or when Ireland was forced to take on 43% of the EU’s banking debt or when it comes to our corporate tax rate, which the EU seeks to drastically increase and bring in line with other EU states.
Many recognise that Ireland and its border is simply a pawn being used by the EU to hurt the UK and make Brexit as painful as possible.
Ireland’s border will the only major land border between the UK and the EU post-Brexit and Junker insisted that it’s status is a priority.
The Taoiseach has also reiterated that the Irish government expect the UK government to keep to its commitment to not impose a hard border in the between itself and the Republic.
Varadkar also went on to warn that time is running short to reach an agreement with the UK over the border issue. However, UK Prime Minister Theresa May won a vote which would prevent Parliament from blocking a ‘no-deal Brexit’.