Varadkar says Brexit for Ireland is much different than just trade

Britain's impending departure from the European Union is not just about the trade for Ireland but is an existential issue for its nearest neighbour, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Reuters on Thursday.

"Often when I talk about Brexit outside of Ireland, people talk about it as if it's a trade deal as if it's about trade and jobs and the economy and migration", Varadkar said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"All those things are important but this is different for Ireland. We've had 20 years of peace in Ireland, increased North-South co-operation, and the foundation for all of that was the European Union. That's why for us this is a very different question. This is at a different level for us."