The UK has tried to get a Brexit deal done for quite some time. Theresa May had a couple of attempts, but her deals didn’t pass the British Parliament. Boris Johnson is in his first attempt, but his job has been even more difficult, as things get harder while the deadline approaches. The Irish border issue has been the main problem.

The republic of Ireland doesn’t want a border between the two Irelands, so they have been the main obstacle for the Brexit deal. Although, the Irish Foreign Minister is making some encouraging comments as follows:

• Proposals a step forward, but changes required
• Only people in NI saying current plan will work are DUP
• A minority cannot veto measures that a majority want to see in place
• There are significant problems with UK’s proposal
• He does not take for granted that the Benn Act will prevent no deal Brexit
• Personalised attacks on Irish politicians are not the way forward
• If this is final position of UK government, there won’t be a deal
• British PM has boxed himself into a corner
• Written commitments from UK government to EU should not now be ignored because inconvenient
• British PM has limited room for manoeuvre

Not all remarks are positive, but they do sound more optimistic than what we have heard on the previous comments coming out of Ireland. This is the last chance and both sides would love to reach a deal before the UK crashes out.

The GBP is not reacting much, but if such comments keep coming, then chances are that it will surge sooner or later. This is the time for the deal to be made, tick-tock.