There is nothing to celebrate in the Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has said. As the focus now turns to Westminster where Boris Johnson will face the difficult task of getting the agreement through the House of Commons, Mr Martin warned that the deal still contains genuine uncertainty in important areas. However, an amendment tabled put a stop to that and instead forced Mr Johnson to ask the EU for a Brexit extension. Although, Mr Martin welcomed the deal he warned that it proposes to cement a hard Brexit. Addressing the Wolfe Tone commemoration in Bodenstown, Co Kildare, Mr Martin said: “This deal is a step away from the finality, or bullet-proof nature claimed for the previous withdrawal agreement.”Speaking to reporters at the event Mr Martin said Brexit had created “significant challenges” in maintaining and nurturing relationships between the unionist and nationalist traditions on the island of Ireland.

Source: Irish Examiner October 21, 2019 04:30 UTC