neale richmond in dublin, welcome to hardtalk. thanks for having me on. start with boris johnson, new prime minister. he has changed the dynamic of the brexit process, because he says britain is leaving on october the 31st come what may. how has ireland adapted to this new boris johnson dynamic? well, being quite frank, for us in ireland and across the eu, the change of british prime minister doesn't actually mean we need to change at all. the dynamic hasn't changed. ultimately the uk is still intent on leaving the eu, as they voted through in referendum, and we still intend to allow them leave but to make sure they meet their responsibilities they have as a departing member. we negotiated a very fair withdrawal over 18 tortuous months that required serious compromise on both sides, and we very much see that that is the vehicle to allow the uk leave in a managed fashion. nothing has changed otherwise in any other regard. i confess, i'm very surprised to hear you say nothing has changed, because surely in the real world of politics, the fact there's now a

earlier i got the perspective of neale richmond, the chair of the irish senate‘s brexit committee, onh government red lines that underpins the good friday agreement and ensures there‘s no hardening of the border. so what do you think is borisjohnson‘s strategy and all of this? well, i can‘t attempt to read into the mind of borisjohnson can‘t attempt to read into the mind of boris johnson and can‘t attempt to read into the mind of borisjohnson and nor do i think it is right to talk about strategies. what is clear is that the matter provides nothing new and there‘s no realistic alternative measured —— mentioned and we are in a situation where the eu has worked closely with the british government to reach compromise and negotiate for torturous amounts of time, 18 months, and have a mechanism in the withdrawal agreement that will allow for a managed brexit. the withdrawal agreement with the backstop is emplaced and that is the only way to achieve and manage brexit and we very much of the british government can its responsibilities.” very much of the british government can its responsibili

joining us via webcam is neale richmond who's chairman of the brexit select committee in the irish senate varadkar‘s governing fine gael party. two sides are not talking it looks like there are not going to be any talks to provide any new deal and we are hurtling towards a no—deal brexit. every day, the past is closer to halloween, we can still absolutely change the situation. i know a no deal is one's interest. it does not provide any clarity no deal at this stretch provides more confusion and more renegotiation on the key issues that have already been agreed upon. we agree solely that there is an agreement to be had in terms of the future political declaration and does next round of negotiations on a trade customs and regulatory deal, we can only do that with the insurance policies provided in the withdrawal agreement with the rights of british citizens in the eu and vice versa, and a financial settle m e nt and vice versa, and a financial settlement that does not threaten the fragile peace on this island. for borisjohnson the fragile peace on this island. for boris johnson has the frag