N. Ireland declares Barnier's proposal as 'neither realistic nor sensible'

European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier's proposal giving Britain the unilateral right to leave the customs union is "neither realistic nor sensible", the deputy head of Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party said on Friday.

"This is neither a realistic nor sensible proposal from Michel Barnier," Nigel Dodds, whose party props up Britain's minority government, said in a statement. "It disrespects the constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom.

"We need to work for a sensible deal which can work for everyone in Northern Ireland. It is possible but there must be less intransigence in Brussels," said Dodds.