Ireland warns any UK request for Brexit extension not straightforward

Ireland's position remains that granting an extension to Brexit is preferable to Britain crashing out of the European Union without a deal but there is no guarantee that view is shared throughout the bloc, its foreign minister said.

"The Irish government position has always been that an extension is preferable to a no-deal and I don't think that will change but this has to be a decision that is a collective decision by the European Council," Simon Coveney told Irish national broadcaster RTE on Saturday.

"Anyone prime minister can prevent that and I think the EU wants to see certainty and an end to endless negotiation and speculation so I think a request for an extension is not straightforward."