Ready for Brexit? Deal or no deal!

The text of the agreement of 17th October 2019, between the European Commission and the Government of the United Kingdom may be found on the EU Brexit Negotiations' Page. 
(Including:  European Commission Recommendation 17 October 2019
Letter from President Jean-Claude Juncker to President Donald Tusk (President of European Council)
Revised Political Declaration
Revised Withdrawal Agreement including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland) 
The European Commission have recomended it to the European Counsel {"The 27"} and will also do so to the European Parliament.)
The British Government has recommended its adoption by the UK Parliament.
The details of the progress of the bill (European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20) may be found on the Westminster Parliament website here.

Britain is due to leave the European Union on the 30th January 2020.

Click to download guide

The EU and Britain had agreed an extension to 31 October 2019 with the aim of ensuring an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the EU however this was extended to facilitate a General Election in Britain. The election produced a majority Government with a strong mandate to implement the agreement. A Bill incorporating the 17th October 2019 is making its way through the Westminster Parliament.

The plan (incorporated in the bill) is that negotiations for a trade deal between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the European Union should be completed in order to be implemented at the end of 2020.

There is some (considerible?) scepticism that this timetable is possible in which case an extension would be required to eliminate the danger of no agreement. The withdrawal is only the first (and easiest?) step. The negotiotions for a trade agreement, under Michel Barnier the EU Chief Negotiator and EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan and whomsoever is appointed to negotiate from Boris Johson's Cabinet, will not be easy.

Getting Your Business Brexit Ready - Practical Steps.
This guide, from the Irish Government, sets out nine practical steps that all businesses – large and small - should take now to prepare for Britain's departure from the European Union.

Download your copy here.

The major bone of contention according to the current British Government appears to be what is called the Backstop. Here is a good background piece by RTÉ's Tony Connolly: A brief history of the Backstop. (20 Oct 2018). Indeed any article by Tony Connelly is a worthwhile read on this topic and also to follow on twitter.  He has written a book - updated periodically - "Brexit & Ireland" which helps understand the complex situation this decision of the British People has on it relationship with its nearest neighbour.

Other articles here on Brexit.
• Who knows? The Brexit dilemma! (Feb 2019)
• Nobody knows! (Jun 2016)
• EU Exit resources (Sept 2019)
• Brexit: The long hard road to a future relationship! (Nov 2019)

Some relevent links:

Irish sites Brexit site (DFA) Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU. Brexit readiness actions plan (Sept 2020) European Sites Brexit Negotiations. European Union Brexit preparedness. Customs guide for businesses Brexit Steering Group (EU Parliament) British Government sites European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 Get ready for Brexit British Parliament Exiting Europe Committee. UK Help & Services in Ireland.  Other British resources. GAMBICA member resource European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) and the British Prime Minister's Europe adviser David Frost

#Brexit #Breatimeacht @BrexitReadyIRL