Ireland's PM says EU can still get Brexit trade deal

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin said on Thursday he expected intensification of talks to break the current impasse on reaching a Brexit deal with Britain before the end of this year.

"I think we still can get this resolved within the timeframe available to us," he told reporters ahead of a European Union summit in Brussels. "I think where there is a will there's away."

"With COVID-19 having such a devastating impact on society and on the economies of the United Kingdom and across Europe obviously leaders will not want to hit citizens with a shock in terms of what a no-deal would represent."