IrelandIreland’s Europe Minister denies Brexit deal is ‘dead’

Back in January 2013, then-British Prime Minister David Cameron declared that he is in favour of an in-out referendum, sometime in the future, to create a new settlement for the U.K. in the European Union (EU). It set in motion a series of negotiations between the two bodies over the formal’s withdrawal from the latter, popularly known as Brexit.

Irish backstop 'indispensable' to Brexit deal - Macron

Boris Johnson has had his bid to get France's support for a new Brexit deal in 30 days rebuffed on a trip to Paris. The prime minister was told by French President Emmanuel Macron that they would "not find a new withdrawal agreement" within a month that is "very different from the existing one". © Reuters Boris Johnson paid a visit to Paris on Thursday Mr Macron said there needed to be "visibility" from the UK over what it wants "in 30 days", but reiterated the key part of the current deal known as the Irish backstop was "indispensable".

Northern Ireland will continue to follow many of the EU' s rules in order to avoid a hardening of its border with the Republic of Ireland . This will mean however that new checks will be introduced on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Now that it' s no longer in the EU, the UK is free to set its Level playing field: A set of rules to ensure that one country, or group of countries, doesn't have an unfair advantage over another. This can involve areas such as workers' rights and environmental standards. Free trade agreements like the Brexit deal often include level playing field measures.

" Deal is done," read the statement from Downing Street on Thursday afternoon -- swiftly followed by confirmation from Brussels. Speaking shortly after the announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the agreement was a "good deal " for the "whole of Europe " -- one that signified "a new stability and a new certainty in what has sometimes been a fractious and difficult relationship." The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed that the EU had struck a fair and balanced post- Brexit trade deal , but signaled that the bloc had the upper hand in the negotiations.

We take a look at a timeline of the negotiations and some of Brexit’s most important developments so far.

Led by Cameron (pictured), the Conservative Party launched its manifesto for the 2015 General Election, which pledged a “real change in our relationship with the European Union.” The party also declared it will hold an in-out referendum “before the end of 2017.” The Conservatives eventually went on to win the election.

In the House of Commons, Cameron announced the date for the EU referendum to be June 23, 2016. The government also published their policy paper titled “The best of both worlds: the United Kingdom's special status in a reformed European Union.”

In the referendum on EU membership, the majority of voters, 51.9 percent, wanted to leave the EU, while 48.1 percent voted to remain. David Cameron announced his intention to resign the next day.

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media captionThe prime minister ' s Brexit deal is backed by 202 MPs but 432 vote against. Prime Minister Theresa May' s Brexit deal has been rejected by 230 votes - the largest defeat for a sitting government in history. The most controversial sticking point was the issue of the Northern Irish backstop - the fallback plan to avoid any return to physical border checks between the country and Ireland . Mrs May had hoped new assurances from EU leaders this week, saying the backstop would be temporary and, if triggered, would last for "the shortest possible period", would help her garner more

Northern Ireland was ravaged by sectarian violence over the division of Ireland . “There’ s no denying that Brexit has opened up a space in the national dialogue for this By the turn of the 1970 s , tension morphed into violence between sectarian groups that left more than 3,500 people dead . The fact Ireland and the U.K. were both members of Europe ’ s single market meant there was little need for

Theresa May became the new British Prime Minister and assumed office on this day.

Earlier in 2016, activist Gina Miller (pictured) had brought a case against the British government, saying it doesn’t have the authority to implement Brexit without an approval from the Parliament. On this day, the High Court found the case in favor of the claimants, enabling the Parliament to play a key role in Brexit. The government said it would appeal against the decision. It later lost this appeal.

The Prime Minister triggered Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, or the Maastricht Treaty, which meant that the U.K. started a two-year countdown to leave the EU.

EU-27 (European Union countries except for the U.K.) members met for the first time since the triggering of Article 50, adopting the guidelines for Brexit negotiation ahead.

Johnson vows to 'step up the tempo' of Brexit talks

Boris Johnson has said Brexit talks with the European Union will be stepped up in the coming weeks in a bid to secure a new deal. The prime minister's lead negotiator, David Frost, met EU officials this week and agreed to "intensify talks". Downing Street said the initial discussions showed the two sides remain some distance apart on key issues. However, Mr Johnson said he was "encouraged" by the reaction from EU leaders in recent weeks and said it was "now time for both sides to step up the tempo".

Meanwhile, the U.K. government released the “Northern Ireland and Ireland Position Paper,” which clarified how the nation planned to handle the situation of Northern Ireland and Ireland in light of Brexit.

(Pictured) European Council President Donald Tusk speaks at a conference after the EU-27 meet.

The General Election resulted in a hung Parliament. May formed a minority government as the Conservatives won more seats, but would heavily rely on support from the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland for key votes.

The first round of negotiations between the U.K. and EU began on this day.

(Pictured) EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier (R) offers his hand to Britain's Brexit negotiator David Davis during their meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

The EU-27 nations decided upon new seats for two EU agencies, which were based in the U.K. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) was moved to Amsterdam, Netherlands (pictured), while the European Banking Authority (EBA) moved to Paris, France.

The European Commission published the draft titled “Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom,” based on reports from the first phase of negotiations.

Brexit Means Another Fiery Week In Westminster. Here's What To Expect

Since the public voted to leave the EU three years ago, there have been plenty of dramatic weeks in parliament. But after Boris Johnson revealed shock plans last week to suspend (or ‘prorogue’) parliament, MPs’ return to Westminster on Tuesday after the summer recess is expected to mark the start of the mother of all showdowns.

The draft proposed that Northern Ireland would act as a “customs territory” of the EU. May responded that no prime minister could “ever agree” with it and added that such a move would “undermine the U.K. common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom.”

Marking one year to go until Brexit, May paid a visit to each nation of the U.K., promising that only such a Brexit deal will be delivered which works for every community and also protects the integrity of the nation.

The British Cabinet met at Chequers, the country house of the prime minister, to hash out their differences and reach a collective position for future Brexit negotiations. It was decided that the proposals would be published as White Paper in the following days. While the Cabinet formally endorsed May’s idea for a U.K.-EU Free Trade Area, it questioned the Government’s proposed future relationship with the EU.

Not happy with how the U.K. was “giving away too much and too easily” to the EU, Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned, along with Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary Boris Johnson. Dominic Raab was appointed as the new Brexit Secretary.

On this day, the Government published the first set of technical notices on how to prepare in case the U.K. leaves the EU with no deal. Raab also delivered a speech on no-deal planning.

What happens now MPs have moved to block Boris Johnson from forcing a no-deal Brexit?

Boris Johnson has been dealt a major blow to his authority after MPs wrestled control of parliament and moved to block a no-deal Brexit.

At an informal summit of EU leaders in Salzburg, Austria, May gave a speech on the latest developments. The main component of her plan for a post-Brexit relationship was strongly opposed, leading her to warn that she would walk away from the discussions if no deal could be reached.

Around 700,000 people participated in a massive People’s Vote March to demand a referendum on the final terms of any Brexit deal.

Negotiations were held between the U.K. and EU to reach a contract in principle on the Withdrawal Agreement. It established the terms of the country’s departure on March 29, 2019.

Citing his opposition to the Withdrawal Agreement, Raab resigned from the Cabinet, along with other ministers such as Brexit Undersecretary Suella Braverman and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey.

In a short statement outside 10 Downing Street, May said, “The British people want this to be settled. They want a good deal that sets us on course for a brighter future. That deal is within our grasp and I am determined to deliver it.”

While addressing the House of Commons on exiting the European Union, the Prime Minister announced a delay to the Meaningful Vote (which ratifies the Withdrawal Agreement), which was planned to be held the following day, saying, “If we went ahead and held the vote tomorrow, the deal would be rejected by a significant margin.”

Why the Queen Didn’t Say No to Boris Johnson

The country’s monarch is the head of state, but her role is largely ceremonial, and she tries to stay out of politics.

British firm Seaborne Freight was awarded a £13.8 million contract by the Government to run extra ferries between Ramsgate, England, and Ostend, Belgium, if a no-deal Brexit takes place. The move raised major concerns as the company had never run a ferry service before.

The Government suffered a record defeat in the Meaningful Vote on its plans for Brexit, with 432 votes against and 202 in favor.

May and her Government faced a defeat yet again, as the second Meaningful Vote saw 391 against and 242 for.

Marking a huge blow to May, the Members of Parliament voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit. They also asked the government to seek permission from the EU to extend Article 50, which meant extending the deadline for departure.

Brexit Leader Nigel Farage (C, in green overcoat) organized a 270-mile (435 km) march from Sunderland to London, demanding the exit of Britain from the EU.

The EU agreed a short extension to the Brexit deadline, offering the date of May 22, 2019 (if May can get her Brexit deal passed) and April 12, 2019 (if not). The Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) warned that the nation may face a national emergency over Brexit.

Nearly a million protesters took to the streets in Central London, demanding that the people must be given a final say on Brexit.

May told Conservative lawmakers that she would step down if Parliament approved her plan for withdrawal. “I know there is a desire for a new approach, and new leadership, in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that," the Prime Minister said. She did not specify when she would step down.

On the day the U.K. was supposed to withdraw from the EU, Parliament rejected May's withdrawal agreement a third time. The government lost by 344 votes to 286. In response to the vote, the EU planned an emergency summit on April 10 to discuss its next move.

Following the government's failure to pass May's withdrawal agreement through Parliament a third time, a second series of indicative votes by MPs resulted in the proposed Brexit alternatives - including a 'customs union' relationship with the bloc, a 'common market 2.0', and a second referendum - being rejected. Such an outcome means increasing government pressure to receive Parliamentary backing on May's deal, or to seek a long Brexit extension to avoid a no-deal scenario.

(Pictured) A Westminster City Council employee sweeps the street in front of 10 Downing Street in London, England on April 1, 2019.

With the House of Commons voting by 313 votes to 312 - a majority of one - on Labour member Yvette Cooper's bill that the Prime Minister must ask the EU for a further extension to Brexit, Theresa May wrote to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, seeking an additional delay until June 30, 2019. The extension would ostensibly provide the U.K. more time to move beyond the current Parliamentary impasse over Brexit.

(Pictured) A combination photo shows a copy of Prime Minister Theresa May's letter to Donald Tusk, seeking an additional Brexit delay, in London, England on April 5, 2019.

After Theresa May proposed a delay of June 30, 2019 to EU leaders, a longer extension of up to Oct. 31, 2019 was agreed by the EU27 just 48 hours before the U.K. was scheduled to leave the bloc without a deal. This longer extension includes a break clause allowing the U.K. to leave before October if a withdrawal agreement is passed through the House of Commons. While the delay means Britain avoids a hard Brexit in April, the country must now participate in European elections in May.

(Pictured) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk hold a news conference in Brussels, Belgium after EU leaders discuss Brexit on April 11, 2019.

The Tory politician defeated rival Jeremy Hunt to become the new leader of the Conservative party and the next Prime Minister of the UK by two thirds of the Conservative Party vote. Johnson stated his priorities were 'to deliver Brexit and unite the country'. Notably, he has previously refused to rule out a no deal Brexit scenario.

The British Prime Minister held talks with the U.S. President Donald Trump during a breakfast meeting at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France. Jonson said, “There is an opportunity to do a great free trade deal with the United States. The president is very gung-ho about that and so am I. They want to do it within a year, I'd love to do it within a year, but that's a very fast timetable.” Further, talking about Brexit he said a part of the bill would be withheld if there was no deal.