Bertie Ahern: Compromise better than a no-deal Brexit

The Irish government should avoid a no-deal Brexit at all costs, the former taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Bertie Ahern has told BBC Hardtalk's Sarah Montague.

A no deal would not be in anyone's interests and would cause immense economic difficulties in the island of Ireland, he explained.

Mr Ahern said he was sure that when Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar and UK Prime Minister Theresa May meet, they would be looking to find a compromise, but any compromise cannot be allowed to unravel the withdrawal agreement, because it is already full of them, he added.

Watch the full interview on Thursday 7 February on BBC World News and Friday 8 February 2019 on the BBC News Channel.