The Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said it is "highly unfortunate" that only one party from Northern Ireland takes its seats at Westminster.

He added that this party represents "a minority view" on Brexit and the backstop.

Speaking at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin, Mr Coveney also reiterated that the withdrawal agreement on Brexit is not open for negotiation.

His comments came after MPs in the House of Commons voted in favour of an amendment calling for the Irish Brexit backstop to be replaced with "alternative arrangements".

The so-called Brady amendment was passed by 317 votes to 301 votes.

It does not specify what the alternative arrangements should be, but adds that MPs support "leaving the European Union with a deal and would therefore support the withdrawal agreement subject to [a backstop] change".

British Prime Minister Theresa May urged MPs to give her the "strongest possible mandate" to return to Brussels and renegotiate the Brexit withdrawal deal.

However, she must work to convince the EU to re-open talks, as European officials continue to insist the previously agreed deal is not up for renegotiation.

Mr Coveney told an audience at the Dublin-based think-tank: "Brexit is a major challenge and huge disappointment for us, following 45 years of close cooperation and partnership as fellow EU member States.

"This is why the withdrawal agreement is of such importance. This agreement followed two years of detailed and complicated negotiations, and represents real compromise on both sides.

"It represents the best way, the only way, to ensure an orderly UK withdrawal."

"No alternative arrangements"

Speaking on events in London on Tuesday, he said: "We watched the House of Commons votes closely last night. And we saw the Commons express two preferences by narrow majorities: firstly, that a no-deal Brexit is avoided, and, secondly, that the backstop somehow be replaced by alternative arrangements.

"Firstly, we welcome and share the UK parliament's determination to avoid a no deal Brexit.

"The best way to achieve this, as the prime minister has argued since November, is to agree the 585-page withdrawal agreement and the political declaration on the future relationship.

"The withdrawal agreement won't be re-opened, but as the EU has continuously said, the political declaration on the future relationship can evolve if the UK government changes its red lines.

Simon Coveney giving a speech at the IIEA in Dublin's Gresham Hotel | Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

"And if the UK wishes to request an extension of Article 50, the EU27, including Ireland, are ready to consider that request and decide unanimously on it".

"The second wish expressed by the Commons last night - by 317 votes in favour to 301 against - was to replace the backstop with some type of alternative arrangements.

"I should start by saying that the concept of 'alternative arrangements' is not a new one - it is there in the text of both the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland in the withdrawal agreement and it is in the political declaration on the future relationship.

"The EU is committed to exploring and trying to agree alternative arrangements with the UK to replace the backstop in the future.

"However, there are currently no alternative arrangements, which anyone has put forward, which achieve what both sides are determined to achieve - to avoid a hard border, including any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls, and to protect the all-island economy, North-South cooperation and the Good Friday Agreement.

"Believe me, this has been explored endlessly in the negotiations over the last two years.

"We have seen no alternative arrangements that meet this essential threshold. And we need a backstop or insurance mechanism based on legal certainty, and not just wishful thinking."

'Only one party takes its seats at Westminster'

He added: "There are two very large communities in Northern Ireland, one of which is unionist and one of which is nationalist. There is a diversity of views within those communities, just as there are many people who do not consider themselves defined at all by one constitutional outlook or another.

"It is vitally important that politicians in Westminster understand the overwhelming wish across society in Northern Ireland not to return to the borders and division of times past.

"It is highly unfortunate that only one party from Northern Ireland, representing a minority view on Brexit and the backstop, takes its seats at Westminster.

"And it makes it all the more critical that the UK listens to other political parties, representing a majority in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and to cross-community groups like the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, the Confederation of British Industry and the Ulster Farmers Union over the coming weeks.

"What they are saying is that the backstop is infinitely preferable to a no-deal Brexit.

"We hope, still, that those arguments are heard, however loud other voices in London become."

Mrs May's Conservative Westminster government is being supported in a confidence and supply deal by Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).