Updated 12:15

The Tánaiste has warned that there is still “clearly work to do” in Brexit talks, amid reports a deal could be close.

Simon Coveney was speaking after a meeting of the European General Affairs Council in Brussels today.

Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier updated the foreign affairs ministers of the remaining EU27 on the state of the negotiations.

Minister Coveney said his colleagues had made it “very clear” that the “support and solidarity for Michel Barnier and his negotiating team is stronger now than it has ever been.”

“Clearly this is a very important week for Brexit negotiations,” he said.

“The two negotiating teams have really intensified their engagement and the support and solidarity for that work is very, very strong.

“We will have to wait and see where that goes but the issues are not new.

“There is still clearly work to do between the two negotiations teams and I think we need to give them the time and space now to finish that job.

“The sooner that can be done, I think, the better for everybody.”

Good meeting with @MichelBarnier this morning - crucial week for #BREXIT - negotiating teams engaging intensively, more work still to be done. Solidarity across the EU remains very strong. @HMcEntee @dfatirl pic.twitter.com/3dPA2GwlLL

— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) November 12, 2018

It comes amid reports a deal could be reached as early as tomorrow.

According to The Times Ireland, British and EU negotiators are closing in on a draft Withdrawal Agreement.

The backstop remains the main sticking point – with UK Prime Minister Theresa May facing division in her Cabinet and in the wider House of Commons.

The DUP, which has been propping up her minority government under a confidence and supply arrangement, is continuing to insist it will not support any deal that includes a bespoke arrangement for the North.

Meanwhile, hard-line Brexiteers have warned they may vote down the plan if there is no mechanism for the UK to independently walk away – something the EU will not agree to.

All this amid rumours that more 'Remain supporting MPs may follow the lead of Transport Minister Jo Johnson - who resigned last week calling for a second Referendum.

Realistically the UK Cabinet will have to sign off on the draft plan within the next 48 hours if a special summit is to be called this month to finalise the plan.

Sources in the UK have suggested that the Cabinet must sign off by Wednesday evening.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her husband Philip leave 10 Downing Street ahead of an Armistice remembrance service in central London, 11-11-2018. Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/PA Images

Meanwhile, the leaders of four of Northern Ireland’s political parties are travelling to Westminster today for a series of talks on the border.

Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and Green Party will all be represented by their party leaders.

The parties all campaigned to remain in the EU in the original Brexit Referendum.

They have travelled to Britain to warn that the backstop preventing any return to a hard border In Ireland must be included in any Withdrawal Agreement.

The leaders will attend a series of engagements – including meetings with Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Plaid Cymru.

File photo of Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill in Dublin, 11-10-2018. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O’Neill said the visit marks a "crucial show of unity at a crucial time" in the talks.

“This is the latest in a series of engagements and initiatives which the parties have taken together to demonstrate that the DUP and British government do not represent the cross-community majority of people in the North who voted against Brexit," she said.

“The Brexit negotiations are now in a crucial phase and this is another crucial show of unity when we will once again be asserting our common position that the ‘backstop’ as already agreed must be maintained.

“The backstop is the absolute bottom line for Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and Green Party as we enter the endgame of the Brexit negotiation process on Britain’s Withdrawal Agreement."

On Monday the four pro-remain parties will be meeting with Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn, the Liberal Democrats, SNP and Plaid Cymru. A crucial show of unity at a critical time. We must protect the Good Friday Agreement. The backstop is the bottom line. https://t.co/ApnFFYsmp1

— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) November 10, 2018

 

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said the way Britain has handled Brexit has been an “unmitigated disaster.”

He said the issues surrounding the Irish border must not be allowed to rumble on and warned that the backstop must remain the fallback regardless of what happens in the future.

“The UK position is that if you move to future relationship, there is no need for any backstop or need for any special treatment in Northern Ireland,” he said.

“But who says? How do we know that?”

“I think we need to be very careful trying to believe the line that the future relationship will actually help.

“We don’t know what the future relationship is and we shouldn’t agree anything about the future relationship until we see it.”