Varadkar accused of stirring tensions over 'doomsday' remarks on troops at border

Leo Varadkar has been accused of talking “nonsense” after warning that troops may return to the border if Brexit goes “very wrong”.

The Taoiseach was heavily criticised after he said that in a worst-case scenario, armed customs posts could be back after the UK leaves the EU.

He told Bloomberg TV the border at present was “totally open”, but that if things went badly wrong it would “look like 20 years ago”.

Asked to describe what a hard border would look like if the outcome of Brexit was a worst-case scenario, Mr Varadkar said: “It would involve customs posts, it would involve people in uniform and it may involve the need, for example, for cameras, physical infrastructure, possibly a police presence or army presence to back it up.”

After months of refusals to answer questions on the impact of a no-deal, Mr Varadkar’s gaffe was viewed as a sign of the panic in the Irish Government at the prospect of a looming hard Brexit.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has moved to deny plans to deploy 600 gardai to the border. But Mr Varadkar’s interview in Davos confirmed police and troops could be needed for a hard border.

An Irish Government spokesman later clarified that Mr Varadkar was not referring to the Irish Defence Forces.

“The Taoiseach made it clear in the interview that the Government is determined to avoid a no-deal scenario and the consequent risk of a hard border,” the spokesman said.

“He was asked to describe a hard border, and gave a description of what it used to look like, and the risk of what it could look like in the worst-case scenario.

“He was not referring to Irish personnel and the Irish Government has no plans to deploy infrastructure or personnel at the border.”

The Taoiseach’s comments were criticised by DUP MP Gregory Campbell, who said: “This is deeply unhelpful talk. Mr Varadkar knows full well the connotations of such statements and he knows it’s nonsense. While others focus on trying to move towards a sensible deal, the Irish Prime Minister needs to dial down the rhetoric and focus more on solutions.”

Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson said the comments “only serve to wind things up”.

“Why would he want to raise the prospect of putting Irish troops on the border at such a sensitive point in negotiations?  Is it now Dublin’s position that they will move to put soldiers on the border at Brussel’s behest?” Mr Nicholson asked. “It is time for Mr Varadkar to take control of his responsibility in making sure that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have as good a relationship after Brexit as they do now.

“This is unconstructive talk that evokes memories of the days of Charlie Haughey.”

Mr Varadkar also claimed that Ireland is being victimised in the Brexit process and said his government would not be giving up on the backstop mechanism for promises that the border issue would be rectified at a later date.

Ulster Unionist Brexit spokesman Steve Aiken said it was “particularly unstatesmanlike” for Mr Varadkar to say that Ireland had been “victimised” by the Brexit process.

He added: “It does not seem so long ago that the Taoiseach and Tanaiste were making clear how they had stood up for Ireland`s position and were standing foursquare with the EU.”

Meanwhile, the comments were condemned as “reckless and irresponsible” by Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald.

“They are totally contrary to previous assertions regarding the government’s commitment to the backstop,” she said. “The Taoiseach has consistently ruled out a border poll on Irish unity.

“Today, he paints a doomsday scenario of a return of soldiers to the border in the event of a no-deal Brexit. If that is the case, then the only way to prevent such a scenario is by affording the Irish people their say in the form of a border poll on Irish unity.”

The comments also sparked criticism from Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin who said: “When the Taoiseach tells an audience in Davos that the army may have to be sent to the border, he is contradicting everything that we have been told about preparations. It is hard to see how this helps our case.”

The picture became further confused later when a senior Fine Gael politician indicated that Irish troops could be deployed to the border.

When asked whether British or Irish troops would have to serve on the border in a worst-case scenario, Senator Neale Richmond told BBC Radio Ulster “probably both”.

The latest row comes as the clock ticks down to the March 29 deadline for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU.  Last night Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom suggested that the UK may seek to delay leaving the EU “by a couple of weeks” in order to get Brexit legislation through Parliament,

The prominent Cabinet Brexiteer insisted that it would be “feasible” to remain in the bloc for a time after the scheduled exit date of March 29.

Belfast Telegraph