The Tánaiste has said that the EU will find Boris Johnson's decision to further limit the time for Brexit trade talks "strange".
Reports in the UK suggest Mr Johnson will bring forward legislation to rule out any extension on trade negotiations.
It's reported that significant changes to the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill - which will be put to MPs again this week - would prevent parliament extending the transition period beyond the end of next year.
The current deadline is December 2020, though the EU is skeptical a full trade deal will be done by then.
If passed, the proposed changes mean the UK would fully leave the bloc in a year's time - with or without a trade deal.
Labour's Keir Starmer suggested the move was "typical of the reckless and irresponsible behaviour we have come to expect from Boris Johnson’s Government".
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said it's a move that will restrict the British Prime Minister's Brexit choices.
Speaking this morning, he said: "It's a decision that is the UK deciding to tie itself in terms of options.
"Obviously that's a decision for the British government to make, but I think the EU will find it strange that the UK is essentially closing off options that it itself could use later on in the process should it choose to."
Following their decisive election win last week, the Tory government is set to bring the Withdrawal Agreement back to the House of Commons on Friday.
With a comfortable Conservative majority now secured, the legislation is expected to make it through parliament ahead of the January 31st Brexit deadline.
