“The government are finally having to face up to an issue that they have so far refused to engaged with: how to leave the European Union without damaging either the Northern Ireland peace process or the integrity of our own Union.

“It is clearly unacceptable that one part of the United Kingdom should be treated different by the EU than another. There are plenty of parts of the UK – Scotland, Wales and London – where people would also jump at the chance to stay in the Customs Union and Single Market.”

“Theresa May won’t get away with burying her head in the sand any longer. The only way of squaring this circle, and of avoiding turning Kent into a parking lot, is to remain in the Customs Union and Single Market.”

RTE has tonight reported details from draft legal text expected to be be adopted by the European Commission tomorrow, you can read the report here.