TAOISEACH Micheal Martin says that he is preparing for a no-deal Brexit after admitting that trust between Ireland and the UK had been damaged.
Speaking with RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Martin said he expressed major concerns with Britain's recent proposal regarding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement to Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a phone call on Wednesday evening.
"Trust has been eroded but [Johnson] made it clear to me that the UK was fully committed to meeting the obligations of protecting the single market and fluidity of trade north and south," Martin said.
When asked how he thought Ireland could trust Mr Johnson's words, the Taoiseach said: "The legislation runs counter to that."
Earlier this week, the news broke that the UK was proposing changes to the Withdrawal Agreement, which puts all existing Brexit negotiations in jeopardy.
The controversial legislation - the UK Internal Market Bill - will give British ministers the power to decide unilaterally how parts of the Northern Ireland protocol in the Withdrawal Agreement should be implemented and disapplies parts of the treaty.
Such a move has been derided by politicians in Ireland, the EU and even the US and has been viewed by some as a breach of international law.
Mr Martin was asked if he believes there will be a no-deal Brexit, and he responded by saying Ireland was "preparing for that prospect".
On Thursday, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar stressed that if the UK was willing to disrespect the already settled upon Withdrawal Agreement, then a free trade deal wouldn't be possible.
"They already have legislated for the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement - This is a change to that," Varadkar said.
See More: Brexit, Micheál Martin, Withdrawal Agreement
