Varadkar 'unclear' whether Brexit negotiations can be concluded in time for EU summit

Mr Varadkar predicted a late push to secure a deal before the crunch meeting of member state leaders in Brussels on Thursday and Friday as hope was rekindled last night an agreement could still be reached.

Mr Varadkar acknowledged that while there was significant hope of a deal when he met British prime minister Boris Johnson in England, last Thursday, difficulties still remain.

He said "a pathway" to a deal does not in itself mean a deal can be agreed and that the EU and UK negotiators are continuing to meet in private to try and get a last-minute agreement over the line.

Given the sudden shift in tone from Luxembourg and Brussels this evening which saw hope grow a deal may be reached this week, Mr Varadkar said talks appear to be "moving in the right direction". However, he added that it "remains unclear" if an agreement can be reached at the EU summit.

"Whether we’ll be able to conclude the revised withdrawal agreement in time for the summit on Thursday that’s, as of now, unclear," he said. "We’re just going to have to see how the next few days develop.

"If we can get to an agreement on Thursday or Friday, and if the House of Commons is able to vote in favour of that agreement on Saturday, it may not be necessary to even consider an extension. But it’s too early to make that assessment at this stage."

There are reports tonight of last-minute progress in talks between the EU and UK - with suggestions a deal or the basis of one could be agreed overnight.

Earlier at the EU foreign affairs council in Luxembourg, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said the next 24 hours will make or break any hopes of a Brexit deal by this Thursday's EU summit.

He stressed no negotiations on the text of an agreement will be allowed to happen during this week's EU summit of leaders, adding that "progress needs to be made today" to avoid a further escalation of the long-running Brexit crisis.

"But I think that's doable if there is a willingness on both sides to move this process to conclusion," he said.

"Of course if that doesn't happen, it leads to another debate in terms of how the leaders will respond to that in the context of whether more time will be needed or whether we will continue discussions into next week."

Focus will now turn to Mr Barnier's meeting with EU member state ambassadors on Wednesday, at which point he will outline any potential deal that could be brought to the EU leaders summit on Thursday and Friday.

"If no deal is agreed at the summit, an emergency EU summit next week will be necessary to avoid a crash-out no-deal Brexit."

Earlier: Leo Varadkar says it's still unclear if a Brexit deal can be achieved this week.

Bloomberg is reporting that EU and UK officials are closing in on a deal this evening but, at the moment, the two sides are still deadlocked.

The Taoiseach said it's not a guarantee that a deal gets done today.

“The initial indications (from the EU) are that we are making progress, negotiations are moving in the right direction,” he told reporters.

“But whether we will be able to conclude a revised Withdrawal Agreement, which is an international treaty, in time for the [EU] summit, that’s as of now unclear.”

He added that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated during their meeting last week that he is confident he could get a Brexit deal through the British Parliament.

“The Prime Minster said to me if we can come to an agreement between the EU and the UK that he was confident he would be able to get it through the House of Commons.

“But of course, there’s a few hurdles between now and then. We first have to come to an agreement on negotiator level and secondly would have to be approved at European Council and third go to the House of Commons.”

However, Mr Varadkar also warned the gap between the two sides is still significant, as he awaited further briefing from Brussels after a day spent in the Dáil.

“What I said last week was that I saw a pathway towards an agreement, but there is a difference between a pathway and an agreement.

“What we discussed was those key stumbling blocks, consent on democracy, customs and the wider issues of the North/South, East/West relationship and I think we had a broad meeting of minds, but actually turning that into a legal agreement is a different thing.

“Our objectives have always been the same, it’s to avoid a hard border north and south and allow the all-island economy to thrive and to allow North/South co-operation to resume as envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement and ensure the integrity of the single market and our place in it.”

A nominal deadline of midnight tonight has been set but it's still unclear if it will be reached

If it is, the plan is to present the draft deal to EU countries tomorrow morning ahead of the European Council summit on Thursday.

Brexit Timeline

By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

• Tuesday, October 8: Tánaiste Simon Coveney meets the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.
• Thursday, October 10: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British prime minister Boris Johnson hold a three hour private meeting in Cheshire, England. Afterwards, they release a rare joint statement saying there is a "pathway" to a deal.
• Friday, October 11: Leaks confirm this "pathway" has been trodden on before, and has an uncanny resemblance to Mr Johnson's predecessor Theresa May's 2017 deal. Under the proposals, Northern Ireland would leave the EU with the UK but would continue implementing EU customs rules, creating an Irish sea EU border and preventing a hard Irish border. Stormont could also be given a "consent" vote.
• Sunday, October 13: EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says the Northern Ireland plan may be unworkable. The DUP rejects the existing deal.
• Monday, October 14: Intense EU-UK talks continue during the EU general affairs council and foreign affairs council in Luxembourg, with informed speculation indicating an emergency EU summit will be needed next week as a deal is unlikely this week.
• Tuesday, October 15: Mr Coveney and Mr Barnier mirror the deadline concerns in the morning. However, by late afternoon, sources suggest a deal could be struck early on Wednesday.
• Tomorrow, Wednesday October 16: Mr Barnier will brief EU member state ambassadors on whether a deal can be agreed at this week's EU summit.
• Thursday, October 17-Friday, October 18: EU leaders including Mr Varadkar and Mr Johnson will attend the latest Brussels EU summit. If a deal is ready, they will consider signing off on it. If a deal is not ready, they will discuss a potential emergency EU summit and whether to allow a "technical extension" of a few days.
• Saturday, October 19: Mr Johnson will attend a potential weekend House of Commons sitting to sign off on a deal. If he cannot produce a deal, he will be legally obliged to seek an extension to the October 31 Brexit deadline - provided he complies with British law.