0:00:03 > 0:00:06All eyes will be on Brussels tomorrow morning for that
0:00:06 > 0:00:08statement from the President of the European Council,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Donald Tusk.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14So will it be make or break for a deal on Brexit?
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Welcome to The View.
0:00:34 > 0:00:41Tonight - breakdown or breakthrough?
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Were not making any comment, no thank you.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47We're just hours away from finding out, with that fresh Brexit
0:00:47 > 0:00:48statement due in Brussels tomorrow.
0:00:48 > 0:00:51We'll be live there and in Dublin for the latest news and analysis.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54We'll also have political reaction here in Belfast,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57and we'll be finding out what those who could be most affected
0:00:57 > 0:00:58by any deal think of it.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01That's local farmers and the manufacturers.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04And in Commentators' Corner, champing at the bit to hold forth
0:01:04 > 0:01:06on another dramatic week of political high drama,
0:01:06 > 0:01:16are Fionnuala O Connor and Alex Kane.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18Hello.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21It's been four days of "will they, won't they?"
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Out of nowhere, a deal appeared to be on the cards in Brussels,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26but then it vanished again just as quickly.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Then the blame game began - "he said, she said",
0:01:28 > 0:01:29on a European scale.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Here's a short reminder of what's happened since Monday.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54We have been very clear, Northern Ireland must leave the European
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Union on the same terms as the rest of the United Kingdom.This is not a
0:01:58 > 0:02:06failure. This is the start of the very last sections.We will
0:02:06 > 0:02:09reconvene before the end of the week and I am also confident we will
0:02:09 > 0:02:13conclude this positively.We are surprised and disappointed they
0:02:13 > 0:02:17haven't been able to follow through today on that agreement. But there
0:02:17 > 0:02:20is still time.We have said from the beginning that the pact between the
0:02:20 > 0:02:26DUP and the Tories in London would end in tears, and so it has.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Yesterday confirmed what we already knew, the DUP tail is wagging the
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Tory dog.When we looked at the wording and saw the import of all of
0:02:35 > 0:02:40that, we knew we couldn't sign up to anything that was in that text that
0:02:40 > 0:02:46would allow a border to develop in the Irish Sea.Taoiseach, can you
0:02:46 > 0:02:49guarantee that your government will not accept any deal that doesn't
0:02:49 > 0:02:52ensure the north remains in the customs union and single market?
0:02:52 > 0:02:59Someone forgot to share the details of the Irish border deal with the
0:02:59 > 0:03:04DUP. Surely, Mr Speaker, there are 1.5 billion reasons why the Prime
0:03:04 > 0:03:09Minister really should have forgotten to do that.We will ensure
0:03:09 > 0:03:13there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Ireland. We will do that while we respect the constitutional integrity
0:03:17 > 0:03:23of the United Kingdom.As the Taoiseach outlined yesterday, this
0:03:23 > 0:03:29is a sensitive negotiation at a very sensitive time.Do you feel you are
0:03:29 > 0:03:31making any progress whatsoever?We will not be making any comment at
0:03:31 > 0:03:35this stage, thanks very much.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38So that brings us up to date with the latest on what's been
0:03:38 > 0:03:40a roller-coaster week of Brexit negotiations.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42And now we're hearing Donald Tusk has an early start tomorrow morning,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44making an announcement in Brussels.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46So, what could he be about to say?
0:03:46 > 0:03:50RTE's Europe Editor, Tony Connelly, is there for us.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52And from Dublin, we're joined by the former Irish Times Political
0:03:52 > 0:03:58Editor, Stephen Collins.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Tony Connelly Percival in Brussels. Fair to assume Donald Tusk's
0:04:02 > 0:04:09statement will be about a fresh deal. Do you think so?That is the
0:04:09 > 0:04:12anticipation here. He announced a few hours ago he would make a
0:04:12 > 0:04:20statement at around 6:50am Irish time, 7:50am Brussels time. That was
0:04:20 > 0:04:26quickly qualified by a spokesperson saying he was on a flight to Hungary
0:04:26 > 0:04:29shortly afterward so he wants to be there to make a statement should
0:04:29 > 0:04:33anything happen overnight. After that the signals come thick and fast
0:04:33 > 0:04:39that things were moving. Phone calls between Jean-Claude Juncker and
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Theresa May, phone calls between Theresa May and Leon Goretzka, the
0:04:42 > 0:04:48Taoiseach. Since then, signals that more is happening with a text. --
0:04:48 > 0:05:03layover -- Leo Varadkar. It was indicated this could run through the
0:05:03 > 0:05:07night and journalists were advised to stay by their phones.There was
0:05:07 > 0:05:10speculation before I came down to the studio that Theresa May could
0:05:10 > 0:05:14travel to Brussels very early tomorrow morning to meet Jean-Claude
0:05:14 > 0:05:18Juncker and Donald Tusk stop have you heard that as well?It was
0:05:18 > 0:05:20always anticipated that Theresa May would have to do come back to
0:05:20 > 0:05:27Brussels if a deal was done because she would have to do repeat the
0:05:27 > 0:05:37choreography of Monday, meeting Jean-Claude Juncker and that one
0:05:37 > 0:05:47would expect that would lead to a political sign off. And then the
0:05:47 > 0:05:52batting would be handed to the European Commission and Donald Tusk.
0:05:52 > 0:05:59They would want to look at any text before the start of the summit next
0:05:59 > 0:06:03big bust up one would have to be here if there is to be a text that
0:06:03 > 0:06:08wins the support of the DUP and the Irish government.What about the
0:06:08 > 0:06:13shape of the text? How might it differ from Monday's draft wording?
0:06:13 > 0:06:17That is critical.That is critical. The Irish government have made it
0:06:17 > 0:06:23clear that the substance of Monday's text can't be changed or removed.
0:06:23 > 0:06:30They would be prepared to have some language in there that qualifies or
0:06:30 > 0:06:36clarifies, or spells out in more detail how this would work. As far
0:06:36 > 0:06:39as the Irish government is concerned, and they have been
0:06:39 > 0:06:43signalling this this week, even though they have been cautious in
0:06:43 > 0:06:46their pronouncements, what they have felt happened on Monday was an
0:06:46 > 0:06:50agreement that had been reached by all sides and they want the gist of
0:06:50 > 0:06:53that agreement to remain intact. Stephen Collins, what are you
0:06:53 > 0:06:58hearing in Dublin tonight?In Dublin people are saying very little. After
0:06:58 > 0:07:03the experience of Monday people are being cautious. The mood music is
0:07:03 > 0:07:06optimistic and there are hopes that it can be pulled off this time. The
0:07:06 > 0:07:14Taoiseach, as Tony said, spoke with Prime Minister Theresa May today.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17There is a feeling of guarded optimism, I would call it. But
0:07:17 > 0:07:22nobody will count their chickens this time. There was talk that the
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Irish government would be prepared to modify some of the language, but
0:07:25 > 0:07:29the substance would have to remain. If the language needs to be
0:07:29 > 0:07:32clarified, that the Irish government accepts Northern Ireland remains
0:07:32 > 0:07:34part of the United Kingdom as long as the majority wanted to, then that
0:07:34 > 0:07:39can be done. But the notion that there would be some form of
0:07:39 > 0:07:44regulatory alignment would want to be remained as far as the Irish
0:07:44 > 0:07:48government is concerned.The most logical speculation or outcome it in
0:07:48 > 0:07:53your view is that there would be some additional sentences, the extra
0:07:53 > 0:07:57paragraph put in over and above Monday's draft that would soothe the
0:07:57 > 0:08:01furrowed brow of the DUP?I think the Irish government signalled they
0:08:01 > 0:08:05would be prepared to put in some extra words to soothe the DUP, but
0:08:05 > 0:08:09how far they would be prepared to do that, I think they would want to be
0:08:09 > 0:08:13reassured that it would suit the DUP and there isn't really any
0:08:13 > 0:08:18fundamental change. I think the Irish government believes the DUP
0:08:18 > 0:08:21misinterpreted Monday's agreement and read far too much into it. But
0:08:21 > 0:08:25they are prepared to move slightly to clarify that for the DUP, I
0:08:25 > 0:08:31think. But after Monday's events, it would be very foolish to presume
0:08:31 > 0:08:38what is going to happen in the morning.The Dublin government must
0:08:38 > 0:08:42be thinking it needs to be very careful, as you have suggested, so
0:08:42 > 0:08:47that the horses are not spooked again. The DUP clearly has
0:08:47 > 0:08:49considerable clout as far as Theresa May is concerned. This is probably
0:08:49 > 0:08:54the last chance to get this right. It probably is the last chance to
0:08:54 > 0:08:59get this right, so that we will be ready in time for next week's
0:08:59 > 0:09:05European Council meeting for stop but I the DUP appreciates they are
0:09:05 > 0:09:08also on a knife edge and their pivotal role that they have to play
0:09:08 > 0:09:12very carefully, and if they disrupt the whole thing, or if they are seen
0:09:12 > 0:09:17to be the ones who resent an agreement going ahead, then the
0:09:17 > 0:09:20fallout for them could be quite damaging in the longer run. I think
0:09:20 > 0:09:24the stakes are very high for everyone involved in this, and that
0:09:24 > 0:09:27is why everybody been so careful tonight. But this seems to be
0:09:27 > 0:09:33movement and they seem to be moving towards an agreed position.Tony, no
0:09:33 > 0:09:37leaks late in the evening. We will see what happens in the wee small
0:09:37 > 0:09:41hours. Does this get us back on track for next week's planned summit
0:09:41 > 0:09:46in Brussels, potentially?If there is agreement tomorrow morning, as
0:09:46 > 0:09:53people are now anticipating, what will happen then is that the process
0:09:53 > 0:09:56that normally happens before a European Council meeting, that will
0:09:56 > 0:10:00kick in. So you will get a signal from Theresa May and Jean-Claude
0:10:00 > 0:10:07Juncker that this has been agreed and then it will go to the other
0:10:07 > 0:10:13European capitals in the shape of European ambassadors who have a
0:10:13 > 0:10:19co-repair meeting here. There is normally one of those meetings every
0:10:19 > 0:10:23Friday, so it is possible the text could go into that co-repair meeting
0:10:23 > 0:10:25on Friday. Member states will look through it to make sure there is
0:10:25 > 0:10:31nothing that causes alarm. On Monday it would go to the Sherpa meeting,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35more jargon, but the Sherpa meetings are the envoys of the 27 heads of
0:10:35 > 0:10:40government who will meet on Monday and prepare draft conclusions for
0:10:40 > 0:10:44next week's summit. That is the normal procedure. If indeed
0:10:44 > 0:10:48everything is over the line tomorrow morning, then that would pave the
0:10:48 > 0:10:54way for a Council conclusion next week. In which the EU 27 can
0:10:54 > 0:10:57formally say, yes, there is sufficient progress on all three
0:10:57 > 0:11:01critical areas and yes we can move this into the second phase in
0:11:01 > 0:11:03January.
0:11:03 > 0:11:08Thank-you both.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12The front pages are just coming in. I'm told the Daily Telegraph
0:11:12 > 0:11:14headline tomorrow, EU expects Theresa May to sign deal today. Very
0:11:14 > 0:11:17much in line with what we have just heard.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20So that's the very latest in terms of what we believe might
0:11:20 > 0:11:21be happening tomorrow.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23What, then, do my studio guests make of that?
0:11:23 > 0:11:26Tonight I'm joined by Sinn Fein's Mairtin O Muilleoir
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and the Alliance Party leader, Naomi Long.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Also with me is Ivor Ferguson from the Ulster Farmers' Union
0:11:32 > 0:11:34and Richard Hogg, who's on the board of Manufacturing NI.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37We did ask the DUP to take part in the programme,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39but it didn't want to.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42The Ulster Unionists couldn't get anyone to join us and we tried
0:11:42 > 0:11:46a long list of Conservative MPs without success.
0:11:46 > 0:11:51Having said all of that, we are pleased to welcome the four of you
0:11:51 > 0:11:56to the studio. Make no mistake about that. Mairtin O Muilleoir, let me
0:11:56 > 0:11:59turn to you first. If the deal is the right gear, it will be worth
0:11:59 > 0:12:04waiting for.You make it sound as if we have nothing to do tonight,
0:12:04 > 0:12:07because we are the only people who turned up!I expressly didn't want
0:12:07 > 0:12:11to give you that impression!We will all get up early tomorrow. If there
0:12:11 > 0:12:15is going to be an agreement or statement, we will study it. Or else
0:12:15 > 0:12:20we need the Green MEP who spilled the beans on the last proto-
0:12:20 > 0:12:23agreement. Whatever happens tomorrow, we will stress test it
0:12:23 > 0:12:27again what we and Sinn Fein want. I think we speak for the majority of
0:12:27 > 0:12:31people in the north when we say that we want a special designated status
0:12:31 > 0:12:36within the EU. Other people call it a unique status. That means the
0:12:36 > 0:12:39status quo must maintain. We should stay in a single market and Customs
0:12:39 > 0:12:46union.You will not get that in this deal.Let's test what comes out, if
0:12:46 > 0:12:48there is a deal tomorrow. Let's test it against what we want to see.
0:12:48 > 0:12:54Certainly the language on Monday, and what an exciting week it was,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56but Collingwood on Monday was that we would have a situation that
0:12:56 > 0:13:07ensured the rights of Irish citizens north of the border. -- but the
0:13:07 > 0:13:13language on Monday was.What it underscores more than anything is
0:13:13 > 0:13:16the peripheral nature of Sinn Fein. You are not part of the negotiation
0:13:16 > 0:13:20process whatsoever. You're watching from the sidelines like the rest of
0:13:20 > 0:13:24us.Actually, tomorrow morning, if there is a deal then Michel Barnier
0:13:24 > 0:13:27will brief the Parliamentary team and Sinn Fein will have a
0:13:27 > 0:13:31representative on that team.You are being told what the deal is, you had
0:13:31 > 0:13:35nothing to do with shaping it.I think the parliament has input and
0:13:35 > 0:13:41we have four MEPs in the parliament. The DUP, what they want to see, and
0:13:41 > 0:13:44they are the only party that campaign for Brexit, and they
0:13:44 > 0:13:48represent a minority. The Taoiseach has taken a firm stand and we cannot
0:13:48 > 0:13:52have any rolling back from that stands taken on Monday this week by
0:13:52 > 0:13:55the Irish government standing firmly behind the rights of Irish citizens
0:13:55 > 0:13:57and the majority of the North. The Taoiseach repeated several times
0:13:57 > 0:14:02this week, the DUP speak for a minority in this. They want to drag
0:14:02 > 0:14:09is back to pass that didn't work. Most people want to be outward
0:14:09 > 0:14:13looking.In your view it speaks for the minority, but it is a party with
0:14:13 > 0:14:18an awful lot of clout.Let's see what they do or don't get. But if
0:14:18 > 0:14:24they get a deal that is the deal Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Liam
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Fox, the type of deal they want, it would be a deal for the Brexiteers,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32it would be a hard Brexit, very damaging to business here and damage
0:14:32 > 0:14:36to the community 's sector and it would mean an end...The Irish
0:14:36 > 0:14:39government will not accept that and it has been clear since day one.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Let's make sure the Irish government stands firm and for the type of
0:14:47 > 0:14:51future we envisage. If anything it needs to be protected.Those
0:14:51 > 0:14:56elements which are relevant as far as the Good Friday Agreement is
0:14:56 > 0:15:00concerned were determined in the original draft. Naomi long, I am
0:15:00 > 0:15:05sorry that you're completely out of the loop on this as well.We are not
0:15:05 > 0:15:14in this negotiation, but if you look at what we, it was pretty close to
0:15:14 > 0:15:18where things were coming out in terms of negotiations earlier this
0:15:18 > 0:15:21week, it set forward I think the only tangible proposal from any
0:15:21 > 0:15:26local party, we discussed them with the secretary of state and both
0:15:26 > 0:15:29governments so we will set out our position very clearly to those in
0:15:29 > 0:15:32the negotiations even though we are not at the table and it's been clear
0:15:32 > 0:15:36this week despite the DUP having ten MPs they were not at the table
0:15:36 > 0:15:42either.Your colleague Stephen Farry told me on Monday that the draft
0:15:42 > 0:15:46deal which fell on Monday was a golden opportunity, the best of both
0:15:46 > 0:15:49worlds, how concerned are you that that could be changed dramatically
0:15:49 > 0:15:55in the second deal we think we will see tomorrow are you not concerned?
0:15:55 > 0:15:58I don't think it can be changed dramatically because the individual
0:15:58 > 0:16:02pieces which make the deal have been pretty much on the table and
0:16:02 > 0:16:05circumscribed by Arlene Foster and Martin McGuinness's letter which
0:16:05 > 0:16:09went to the Prime Minister just after Brexit to set out what we
0:16:09 > 0:16:13needed in Northern Ireland. I think effectively on Monday the DUP did
0:16:13 > 0:16:16not just with gift horse in the most they shot dead in the head and I've
0:16:16 > 0:16:23no idea why, we already have regularity alignment for certain
0:16:23 > 0:16:29sectors. It was about taking it up a notch.The rug from under the feet
0:16:29 > 0:16:34of Theresa May...I am not sure that's the case, I think it was more
0:16:34 > 0:16:38a fit of pique because they felt they had been closed out of
0:16:38 > 0:16:42negotiations and I don't think it went down well. The difficulty is in
0:16:42 > 0:16:46pulling the rug out from Theresa May's beat the need to remember they
0:16:46 > 0:16:49have weakened her on the international stage and yet she is
0:16:49 > 0:16:52to all intents and purposes the Prime Minister who will have to
0:16:52 > 0:16:56negotiate her way through the future stages of this and she is a much
0:16:56 > 0:17:06weakened Prime Minister thanks to how the DUP have handled the
0:17:06 > 0:17:08situation. Much better to have had this conversation behind closed
0:17:08 > 0:17:11doors, not down a telephone line which put the government in an
0:17:11 > 0:17:13embarrassing position.Very interesting perspectives, let's hear
0:17:13 > 0:17:17from the manufacturing sector and the agricultural sector, Richard,
0:17:17 > 0:17:22you appeared before the affairs committee at Westminster yesterday,
0:17:22 > 0:17:26how important is it for you and the people you represent that the
0:17:26 > 0:17:31politicians get this sorted and sorted quickly?It's really
0:17:31 > 0:17:35important and hopefully we will get the border thing sorted out by
0:17:35 > 0:17:39tomorrow, maybe, maybe not. What I find very disappointing about this
0:17:39 > 0:17:44whole process was that are two leading particle parties tried to
0:17:44 > 0:17:48politicise what is a business problem. Trying to politicise the
0:17:48 > 0:17:57border. I think a lot of people in business find that alarming. It's
0:17:57 > 0:18:00important the politicians get together and start moving forward in
0:18:00 > 0:18:08a good direction to help us, to give us direction because within
0:18:08 > 0:18:12manufacturing, business in general, we don't know what will happen.Are
0:18:12 > 0:18:16you optimistic to hear some kind of a revised deal appears to now be in
0:18:16 > 0:18:19the final stages of being agreed, could well be signed off tomorrow by
0:18:19 > 0:18:22the powers that be in Brussels which would give you perhaps the kind of
0:18:22 > 0:18:28clarity you are looking for? Then the question is are you guaranteed
0:18:28 > 0:18:31the politicians will not start politicising the deal in the way you
0:18:31 > 0:18:37think they have politicised the road to the deal?We are extremely
0:18:37 > 0:18:41enthusiastic about it and we are very optimistic about business with
0:18:41 > 0:18:44Northern Ireland. We see fantastic opportunities within Brexit
0:18:44 > 0:18:52actually. Which is, sometimes a bit contradictory but we do find, we do
0:18:52 > 0:18:55think there are a fantastic opportunities if it's handled
0:18:55 > 0:18:58properly and there is no reason we cannot become a bridge rather than,
0:18:58 > 0:19:04so it's not talk about borders or no borders, let's become a bridge.You
0:19:04 > 0:19:07think Northern Ireland could get the best of both worlds in the deal and
0:19:07 > 0:19:12it could be a golden opportunity with a foot in both camps?
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Absolutely, why not? Why can they not be the bridge between Europe and
0:19:15 > 0:19:21the rest of the world and the UK? Why not?Is that how you see it in
0:19:21 > 0:19:30the agricultural sector?No, certainly, speaking as Northern
0:19:30 > 0:19:34Ireland's farmers we want to see progress made, the area I live is in
0:19:34 > 0:19:38Armagh and I live quite near the border so we would like to see a
0:19:38 > 0:19:45solution to the border, we want to see free trade but having said that,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48it's been mooted about the border in the Irish Sea, that would certainly
0:19:48 > 0:19:54be a big problem for us because our businesses are worth almost £5
0:19:54 > 0:19:59billion now and 50% of that goes directly into the UK market so
0:19:59 > 0:20:03anything which would disrupt or change the regulations as regards
0:20:03 > 0:20:08Northern Ireland into the GB market it would certainly be a big problem.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Where are you concerned as far as that element of the Monday draft
0:20:10 > 0:20:18deal, that it could visit problems for your sector? And east-west
0:20:18 > 0:20:21border effectively?That is right. We would like to see free trade with
0:20:21 > 0:20:26our colleagues south of the border but this east West is a bigger
0:20:26 > 0:20:30concern for us because of the volume of trade we do. Our Chief Executive
0:20:30 > 0:20:36and myself were in Brussels at the end of last week and Michel Barnier
0:20:36 > 0:20:42told us it was his ideal, the only answer he could see was for the UK
0:20:42 > 0:20:48to come into a customs union or be aligned in some way. What we were
0:20:48 > 0:20:54talking about here for Northern Ireland, if that could be applied UK
0:20:54 > 0:20:58while Leave why it could cause a lot of problems.So you will be reading
0:20:58 > 0:21:02the terms of the deal if there is a deal tomorrow very carefully because
0:21:02 > 0:21:06that's an issue that unionists flagged up, if there is to be some
0:21:06 > 0:21:10kind of regulatory alignment they would like it to apply more widely
0:21:10 > 0:21:18and to Northern Ireland.Yes, we do not take part in politics, this is
0:21:18 > 0:21:21merely on trade business we are concerned about for Northern
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Ireland.I appreciate that but it's a political negotiation which is the
0:21:25 > 0:21:29difficulty. The politicians have the say so and a degree of influence
0:21:29 > 0:21:35over how you do business in future, that is the reality.I have to agree
0:21:35 > 0:21:40that is the reality but nonetheless it is our top priority. To have no
0:21:40 > 0:21:43interference with trade.What do you make of that, it's a real concern
0:21:43 > 0:21:47and there are a lot of farmers in Northern Ireland and a lot of
0:21:47 > 0:21:51business.Absolutely and in manufacturing and I think the point
0:21:51 > 0:21:56is well made. We called our paper on Brexit bridges not barriers because
0:21:56 > 0:21:59we want to see Northern Ireland's businesses able to trade freely with
0:21:59 > 0:22:03the rest of the UK and Republic of Ireland and beyond because there's
0:22:03 > 0:22:08an opportunity here for us if we have the special arrangement to be
0:22:08 > 0:22:16able to maximise our business. Not just protect what we have but grow
0:22:16 > 0:22:18what we have into the future after Brexit and it's important we future
0:22:18 > 0:22:21proof business. We cannot have hard borders either in the Irish Sea are
0:22:21 > 0:22:23a lot of the border with the Republic but regulatory alignment,
0:22:23 > 0:22:30having no diverging from the EU, that's not mutually exclusive with
0:22:30 > 0:22:36being able to remain to do trade with the UK.When you look at the
0:22:36 > 0:22:41wording, it's only going to relate to a certain number of sectors.It
0:22:41 > 0:22:44already happens in a certain number of sectors, we already have
0:22:44 > 0:22:51regulatory alignment in some sectors on a island-wide basis and on other
0:22:51 > 0:22:55sectors it's across the UK. There have been occasions were having a
0:22:55 > 0:22:58border and its other serious hard border but some kind of boundary in
0:22:58 > 0:23:03the Irish Sea has been beneficial to farmers. Redford and mouth and so
0:23:03 > 0:23:08on, the fact our cattle are not classed the same as GB was to our
0:23:08 > 0:23:12benefit army could continue to trade. There is an occasion where
0:23:12 > 0:23:18that's it to our advantage so why would we not maximise our advantage?
0:23:18 > 0:23:22That is a good example of how the different Cenation work in favour,
0:23:22 > 0:23:26OK it was lying time ago and we don't want another outbreak of foot
0:23:26 > 0:23:33and mouth, obviously, but it is an example of how benefited.As long as
0:23:33 > 0:23:37there are no barriers between us and the UK we could see a lot of
0:23:37 > 0:23:40advantages going forward and there are a lot of positives to grow our
0:23:40 > 0:23:48share of the home market. The GB market is 65 million people.Richard
0:23:48 > 0:23:52how concerned are you by the issue raised that is some kind of border
0:23:52 > 0:23:55which divides your business in Northern Ireland for the rest of the
0:23:55 > 0:24:00United Kingdom, you don't want that? And the people you represent the one
0:24:00 > 0:24:05that?Definitely not, we do not want borders anywhere, we want free trade
0:24:05 > 0:24:11back and forward.There has to be a border somewhere.Yes but it can be
0:24:11 > 0:24:14negotiated and we can work through it but we need to get to the point
0:24:14 > 0:24:16to make their next move which hopefully tomorrow we can see what
0:24:16 > 0:24:20that can be but we need to get to that point first then we can discuss
0:24:20 > 0:24:25it.There are different kinds of borders. This is what we need to
0:24:25 > 0:24:29start talking about. When it's the alignment we already have there is
0:24:29 > 0:24:34already a border effective for certain goods which doesn't cause
0:24:34 > 0:24:37disruption.We need to focus on the practicalities but we have to get
0:24:37 > 0:24:41this ready first and get it agreed or we will never move to the point
0:24:41 > 0:24:47these gentlemen need to be at.I am sympathetic to what I've and Richard
0:24:47 > 0:24:50are saying but unfortunately and Michel Barnier has said this many
0:24:50 > 0:24:53times, you cannot have your cake and eat it. The British want to leave
0:24:53 > 0:25:01the EU.I don't understand that.Let me explain, Michel Barnier said the
0:25:01 > 0:25:05British voted, English and Welsh certainly voted to leave the EU and
0:25:05 > 0:25:09a majority here voted to stay there we are a special case Angela Powers
0:25:09 > 0:25:13said very clearly they are going to stand behind the Irish government
0:25:13 > 0:25:20that there should be no damage done to the north of Ireland under annex
0:25:20 > 0:25:25it so Europe wants to see a solution and it is seen to the British
0:25:25 > 0:25:28government you want out, you cannot say we want to leave the EU but
0:25:28 > 0:25:33still want the rights and entitlements. I know business wants
0:25:33 > 0:25:37to be agnostic and I appreciate that but if the DUP get the way they are
0:25:37 > 0:25:43exiting the same way Manchester and Bristol are and that is a hard exit.
0:25:43 > 0:25:48If the deal goes to tomorrow that's not the case.This is what I am
0:25:48 > 0:25:52trying to say, trying to politicise all of this again is a nonsense and
0:25:52 > 0:25:56it's not acceptable to us in business. Stop it. We need to get to
0:25:56 > 0:26:04appoint move forward.You can say that, and it's a sexy phrase and a
0:26:04 > 0:26:08headline but what does it mean in real terms because politics governs
0:26:08 > 0:26:13this process.We are talking about borders again so in that, the
0:26:13 > 0:26:17borders and having a lack of them whatever way it's going to work out,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21that a business thing we need to be concentrating on as business so we
0:26:21 > 0:26:25know what is going to be there. So we can employ people, get them into
0:26:25 > 0:26:31work, pay taxes and make his province into what it can be.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Hopefully someone from the DUP may be watching tonight so what is your
0:26:36 > 0:26:42message to them from the people you represent?Stop this silly nonsense,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46get yourselves back and sit back and get storm and running again so we
0:26:46 > 0:26:50can as businesses and farmers get on with what we want to do.I would
0:26:50 > 0:26:57certainly agree with that and I also want to say that this is not a
0:26:57 > 0:27:02one-way ticket. Speaking to our farmers, in the member states, like
0:27:02 > 0:27:05a lot of member states are really anxious on the continent and anxious
0:27:05 > 0:27:11to get a good deal, ideal of free trade in and out of the UK. It's not
0:27:11 > 0:27:15all us in the UK wanting to deal with the continent, there are a lot
0:27:15 > 0:27:20of member states you want to deal with us.I need to ask about
0:27:20 > 0:27:25Stormont, Richard saying get it sorted out and get back to stored
0:27:25 > 0:27:29mint -- to Stormont, you will see you wanted but not under the current
0:27:29 > 0:27:32conditions and the DUP need to move on their position but if this deal
0:27:32 > 0:27:35is on the table tomorrow and is contingent upon the devolved
0:27:35 > 0:27:39assembly being backed up and running, to actually implement
0:27:39 > 0:27:43whatever decisions are taken, are you going to thumb your nose at the
0:27:43 > 0:27:46deal and hold to your red lines and see this opportunity go down the
0:27:46 > 0:27:52Swan Lake?Let me reply to Richard, there should be continuation of
0:27:52 > 0:27:57single market and a customs union so business are saying they don't want
0:27:57 > 0:28:01a hard border. Boris Johnson says he wants to leave the EU therefore we
0:28:01 > 0:28:06have to politicise this. The DUP position is the Brexit position and
0:28:06 > 0:28:10ours is not, it's the majority position across this Ireland. I
0:28:10 > 0:28:14would love to be back in government, any of us in elected position want
0:28:14 > 0:28:19to be there to deliver for people. The DUP is the blockage, once they
0:28:19 > 0:28:22guarantee they will give us the government...THEY TALK OVER EACH
0:28:22 > 0:28:33OTHEROnce the DUP guarantee they can treat people equally, things may
0:28:33 > 0:28:37be nonsense to you but they are important to ordinary people, I am
0:28:37 > 0:28:42pleased that there was an opinion poll today showing the majority of
0:28:42 > 0:28:45people want to see...Those other issues have to be dealt with
0:28:45 > 0:28:48otherwise no matter what the opportunities as far as tomorrow's
0:28:48 > 0:28:53deal might be your not going back to Stormont?We will be back to
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Stormont as soon as the DUP step up and see the Good Friday Agreement
0:28:57 > 0:29:01which agrees equality for all, they will respect that.So that obstacle
0:29:01 > 0:29:07are still in place?I remember when Leo Varadkar came here and on the
0:29:07 > 0:29:13same issue of same-sex marriage she will not be compromised.From our
0:29:13 > 0:29:17perspective any divergences we will have from the overall deal, any
0:29:17 > 0:29:20special arrangements will be reliant on getting an assembly back up and
0:29:20 > 0:29:24running. I think the majority of people want to see that happen, they
0:29:24 > 0:29:27want politicians to be grappling with the detail which will follow
0:29:27 > 0:29:33any deal which comes tomorrow and I think it's time to get their heads
0:29:33 > 0:29:36together and find a way to get back into Stormont like the rest of
0:29:42 > 0:29:46A sentence each.I'm disappointed with local politicians. At a time
0:29:46 > 0:29:50like this with farming in love Island and the size of the food
0:29:50 > 0:29:53business, we would like to see some leadership shown in Stormont to us
0:29:53 > 0:30:00moving forward.We are complete alignment.
0:30:01 > 0:30:02Thank you all.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04Let's hear what tonight's commentators have to say
0:30:04 > 0:30:06about that, and the prospect of a new deal tomorrow.
0:30:06 > 0:30:12Alex Kane and Fionnuala O Connor are with me.
0:30:12 > 0:30:17Good to see you. I have been handed a piece of paper with the latest
0:30:17 > 0:30:20information from political editor in London Laura Kuenssberg. Speculation
0:30:20 > 0:30:28continues. Theresa May will go tomorrow early to finalise
0:30:28 > 0:30:31agreements. Talks will continue through the night and it is
0:30:31 > 0:30:34understood additional wording has been finalised in the text to
0:30:34 > 0:30:38provide additional reassurance to the DUP. Alex?I have no idea what
0:30:38 > 0:30:48will happen. We sat here last week and we knew Sammy Wilson and Peter
0:30:48 > 0:30:50Robinson had made their interventions. They were spooked and
0:30:50 > 0:30:54angry. But they need a deal to because the Conservative Party is
0:30:54 > 0:30:58not going to allow, with a few exceptions, is not going to allow
0:30:58 > 0:31:05the DUP to block everything of thing. Tomorrow Theresa May,
0:31:05 > 0:31:09politically damaged and psychologically savaged on Monday,
0:31:09 > 0:31:11she needs to prove she is a lead again. She needs to square that
0:31:11 > 0:31:16circle.Your political antenna is usually pretty good, what's
0:31:16 > 0:31:21happening at the moment?I don't know. I think Theresa May is not
0:31:21 > 0:31:28just damage, but she is on her last chance.Really?I do. She was forced
0:31:28 > 0:31:31into that position. People made the point during the week where she
0:31:31 > 0:31:34didn't want any freethinker clarified. Didn't want the situation
0:31:34 > 0:31:38clarified of what she would go for in the end. -- she didn't want
0:31:38 > 0:31:41anything clarified. Now apparently she wants a cabinet meeting before
0:31:41 > 0:31:45Christmas at which everything will come out in the open. During which
0:31:45 > 0:31:47all the people inside her Cabinet who disagree with each other and
0:31:47 > 0:31:53want to her job in a couple of cases, will open up. She's in a
0:31:53 > 0:31:58terrible position.The challenge is that if tomorrow turns out to be a
0:31:58 > 0:32:02deal based on a fudge where constructive ambiguity is what gets
0:32:02 > 0:32:07it over the line, how long can it last before it all begins to turn in
0:32:07 > 0:32:12on itself? That's the problem.The same thing will happen as has
0:32:12 > 0:32:15happened to the Good Friday Agreement. Constructive ambiguity
0:32:15 > 0:32:22became destructive very quickly. And Theresa May does not believe in
0:32:22 > 0:32:27Brexit. She is not committed to Brexit. She is in and a possible
0:32:27 > 0:32:31task, trying to deliver something she has no interest in.She is try
0:32:31 > 0:32:35to make the best of it.Held hostage for all the wrong reasons by the
0:32:35 > 0:32:39DUP. A deal she never needed to do and is now paying the price for
0:32:39 > 0:32:44doing stupid deal. Tomorrow she is still trying to please these people.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47It's a ridiculously embarrassing position for a British Prime
0:32:47 > 0:32:50Minister to find herself in.Do you have the sense Arlene Foster has
0:32:50 > 0:32:55Theresa May over a barrel at the moment?I don't know. They could be
0:32:55 > 0:32:59an element of pretence in the DUP position. I think they may have
0:32:59 > 0:33:05overplayed their hand. Whether they decide to go for it, they obviously
0:33:05 > 0:33:09couldn't decide to go for broke and say, we will bring you down, walking
0:33:09 > 0:33:12out, and we will risk Jeremy Corbyn getting back in and risk the
0:33:12 > 0:33:16election. So they pulled back from the brink. And I feel they will do
0:33:16 > 0:33:23so again. But there isn't much time left. That's the problem.To hear
0:33:23 > 0:33:26briefly from the agriculture sector and manufacturing sector, taking on
0:33:26 > 0:33:29the politicians and saying, sort yourselves out, it's not often you
0:33:29 > 0:33:35hear that.I don't want to be rude, but I really heard such magical
0:33:35 > 0:33:41thinking. Politicising this question, they said. Politicising
0:33:41 > 0:33:45the border, where have these people been living their entire lives? The
0:33:45 > 0:33:51border isn't political?Is it political naivete?There is more
0:33:51 > 0:33:54chants of me becoming happy than Stormont being put together any time
0:33:54 > 0:33:58soon. It's not happening.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00That's it from The View for this week.
0:34:00 > 0:34:02Join me for Sunday Politics at 11:35am here on BBC1.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04But we leave you with the latest social media
0:34:04 > 0:34:05sensation from Swede Mason.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08When it comes to parody, we're lucky to have the "Once
0:34:08 > 0:34:10in a Lifetime" President that is Donald Trump.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12With apologies to David Byrne - good night!
0:34:12 > 0:34:16MUSIC; Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31TRUMP: # And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
0:34:31 > 0:34:37# And you may find yourself in another part of the world
0:34:37 > 0:34:40# Behind the wheel of a large automobile
0:34:40 > 0:34:43# And you may find yourself in a beautiful house
0:34:43 > 0:34:46# With a beautiful wife
0:34:46 > 0:34:48# And you may say to yourself, well,
0:34:48 > 0:34:52# How did I get here?
0:34:52 > 0:34:55DAVID BYRNE: # Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
0:34:55 > 0:34:58# Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
0:34:58 > 0:35:03# Into the blue again after the money's gone
0:35:03 > 0:35:08# Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
0:35:08 > 0:35:12TRUMP: # And you may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?"
0:35:12 > 0:35:12# And you may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?"