'Sometimes miracles happen' Irish PM snubs Juncker with quip about Brexit trade talks

The President of the European Commission said
Britain would need a “miracle” if it was to begin trade
talks with the Brussels club by the end of October.
Speaking to Sky News , Leo Varadkar commented on
Britain’s progress with the EU so far and whether trade
negotiations would begin soon.
He said: “We don’t know yet, that is a matter that will
be determined by the 27 heads of state of
Government. We won’t be able to do that until late in
October.”
When asked by the reported about Mr Juncker’s
comments, the Irish Prime Minister issued a quip to
the President of the European Commission.
The Irish Prime Minister snapped back at Juncker's
remarks over Brexit trade talks
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“Well we will see, sometimes miracles happen in
politics,” he added.
Speaking at the EU summit in Tallinn, Mr Juncker
reiterated “significant progress” would have to be
made on divorce negotiations before trade talks could
start.
The European Union set out the issues of citizens
rights, the Irish border and the divorce settlement
would have to be agreed before significant progress
was made.
Mr Juncker said: “By the end of October we will not
have sufficient progress.
“At the
end of
this week I am saying that that there will be no
sufficient progress from now until October unless
miracles would happen.”
Theresa May insisted that Brexit negotiators had made
“good progress” towards the issue of EU citizens.
Speaking to reporters, she said: “I value the
contribution that EU citizens have made in the United
Kingdom but I also want to see the rights of citizens
that are living in other European Union countries have
their rights guaranteed as well.
“The negotiations are about ensuring that we can give
certainty and reassurance. That is what the
negotiations are about. Good progress has been made
on that issue.
Brexit: EU summit in pictures
Fri, September 29, 2017
The European Union will be looking beyond the
impending breakup with Britain at how to build a
common future during their two-day summit
meeting
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel gestures prior to
the 'Tour de table' of the Tallinn Digital Summit
during a European Union summit in Tallinn, Estonia
[AFP/Getty Images]
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“A week ago I gave a speech in Florence which set
out how we have made good progress so far, I thought
we could make further progress and moving on to
looking at the future deep and special relationship and
partnership that we want to build with the European
Union when the UK has left the EU.
“I made that speech to give momentum to the talks
and I think we have seen that being shown in the talks
that have taken place this week and further progress
has been made.”
The Prime Minister's comments come after the fourth
round of Brexit negotiations between David Davis and
Michel Barnier came to a close on Thursday.
The Brexit Secretary claimed the teams had
completed “very constructive” talks on the financial
settlement, adding there was scope to “explore” a
transitional deal.

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