Syria, migration, security and Ukraine were the big-ticket items at Thursday’s council summit in Brussels. Speaking to the Irish media after the meeting concluded, it was clear that Brexit received little attention. UK prime minister Teresa May left when the formal summit ended.

The remaining EU 27 were to discuss Brexit informally over dinner but because discussions during the day on the core agenda items overran to such an extent, discussion on Brexit was curtailed to the EU 27 heads of state making brief observations.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny confirmed that the UK prime minister did update the meeting briefly on the present UK position, including awaiting the conclusion of the current supreme court case in the UK about the need for parliament to be consulted on triggering article 50 to begin withdrawal discussions.

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