Ireland says UK-EU withdrawal agreement not open for renegotiation

The European Union's position on the Brexit withdrawal deal, including the Irish backstop, has not changed and the agreement is not open for renegotiation, Ireland's government said in a statement on Tuesday. A change in London's red lines could lead to a change in the political declaration on the future relationship UK/EU relationship that accompanies the withdrawal treaty, and a better overall outcome, the statement added.

Earlier the UK parliament backed an amendment instructing Prime Minister Theresa May to demand that Brussels replace the backstop - which aims to avoid customs checks on the island of Ireland after Brexit - with "alternative arrangements". (Reporting by Padraic Halpin Editing by Gareth Jones)