Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has urged caution after news of a potential Brexit deal emerged ahead of a summit of EU leaders on Thursday 17 October.

“We’ve been here before and in fact we’ve been further than this before, we got an agreement and then it stalled in Westminster,” Minister Creed told RTÉ Prime Time.

“There are significant hurdles yet to be cleared, not least getting that agreement, and I would urge caution.”

Creed said that “every stone will be turned” and every effort made in getting an agreement.

“The issues at the heart of squaring the circle are difficult if not intractable.”

Customs

The issue of checks on the Northern Irish border has repeatedly been a stumbling block for negotiations.

“We’ve been here before, to lose one market is unfortunate in terms of losing access to the UK market. To lose access to the single market or to put that in jeopardy would be unforgiveable."

Not easy to square that circle but every effort is being made

“The integrity of the single market allied to the Good Friday Agreement and no hard border infrastructure is the frame within which we have to consider all of these issues.

“Not easy to square that circle but every effort is being made to so do but I think it’s important to exercise caution as well, these are high obstacles to clear.”

He reminded viewers that the majority of Northern Ireland had voted to remain in the EU, but that negotiations between all parties – taking into account unionist and nationalist views – was still important.

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