AN IRISH draft Bill the government would enact in the event of a no-deal Brexit exposes “the subservient role of the Irish state to the interests of the EU,” the Communist Party of Ireland (CPI) charged today.

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney revealed the Bill yesterday, saying he hoped it would remain on the shelf as a “disorderly” Brexit would be “lose, lose, lose” for the EU, Britain and Ireland.

The Bill looks at transport, health, energy and extradition law, among other matters, but makes no mention of the much-discussed border with Northern Ireland.

But CPI general secretary Eugene McCartan said the “confusion” of a government used to subservience to “Brussels, Washington and London” revealed “how marginal the interests of the Irish people are in the whole British-EU negotiations.

“While Brexit could create difficulties for the Irish economy, the government has become a participant in the efforts of the EU and the powerful section of the British ruling class to frustrate the referendum decision of the people of Britain to leave the EU.

“Notwithstanding foreign minister Simon Coveney's insistence that the EU is acting in solidarity with Ireland, it is obvious that the interests of the Irish people are very far down the list of concerns of either the UK or the EU.   

“It is more an indication that the Irish state is not privy to what is taking place behind the scenes, or if it is, it is unable to influence the possible outcome, as that will be decided between the EU Commission, Germany and Britain.   

“The 15-part Bill covers the provision of electricity, bus and train services, and pension and welfare payments across the island of Ireland post-Brexit.

“Another indicator of how uncertain the Irish government as to what is going on at EU level, is that it is making provision, that the annual exiting of most of the Irish cabinet on junkets to far flung corners of the planet to celebrate St Patrick's Day, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, has stated that visits might be shortened or curtailed. All part of the physiological warfare of the promotion of fear being engaged in by the British state and the EU as they manoeuvre the political ground to manufacture the required result.”