EU Brexit negotiator promises to work with Ireland to avoid hard border

The European Union's chief negotiator for upcoming Brexit negotiations has promised to aid Ireland in an attempt to prevent the return of a hard border, but warned that appropriate customs controls will have to be implemented.

Michel Barnier addressed the Irish parliament on Thursday, reassuring the country's lawmakers that its interests and those of the EU will be concurrent as it enters talks with the UK government.

The issue of the border between the Republic of Ireland and its neighbours Northern Ireland has raised its head once again, with many pointing out that an Ireland remaining in the bloc could provide back-door access to the UK.

"We have the duty to speak the truth. Customs controls are part of EU management – they protect the single market, they protect our food safety and our standards … But, as I've already said, nothing should put peace at risk," Barnier said.

Both the British and Irish governments have said they are opposed to the return of customs checks on the border between the two countries.

Both the British and Irish governments have said they are opposed to the return of customs checks

Barnier is visiting Ireland in order to gauge the potential impact of Brexit on the UK's closest neighbour, and added that he was hopeful the negotiations will produce an end result both sides will be content with.

"If we put things in the right order, if we negotiate with mutual respect without any kind of aggression … if we are open to finding a solution, there is no reason why a strong Europe cannot maintain a strong relationship with the UK," he said.

The UK faces a snap general election on June 8 ahead of the negotiations, with PM Theresa May and the Conservatives hoping to strengthen their control of Parliament before the discussions formally begin.