Angela Merkel promises backing for avoiding hard border in Ireland

Angela Merkel was speaking at a joint press conference in Dublin with Leo Varadkar. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PAAngela Merkel has pledged the European Union’s support in averting a hard border on the island of Ireland despite concern this could undermine the single market in the event of a no-deal Brexit. The German chancellor expressed solidarity with the Irish government in a visit to Dublin on Thursday and urged the UK to present a viable plan to avert crashing out of the EU next week.