It may have been the week that the British prime minister Theresa May finally confronted the hardline Brexiteers in the Conservative party but it was also the week when the two remaining superpowers in the EU confronted the Irish Government about how we would preserve the integrity of the single market in the event of a no-deal Brexit, which remains a very real possibility.

Of course the meetings with the Taoiseach are disguised as showing support for Ireland’s position on the backstop and preservation of the island-of-Ireland economy.

However, there is no disguising the fact that the Irish border is the only land frontier the EU has with the UK and is by far the most vulnerable point in terms of accessing the EU-27 in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Cross party discussions in Britain

Farmers and everyone else with an interest in maintaining the trade status quo will take comfort from the discussions that are going on in Westminster between the prime minister and the main opposition Labour party.

It appears that the Prime Minister has given up on trying to bring the hardline Brexit element of her party along with her, but there is no guarantee of success because the opposition Labour party is as much divided on Brexit as the Conservative party is.

EU position

The other issue for farmers and industry in general wanting a smooth UK exit is what position the EU will take when the leaders meet next Wednesday. France and some others are making loud noises about not giving in to the British request for an extension to the end of June. However, European Council president Donald Tusk appears to have created the space with the suggestion that the EU should offer a long extension rather than 30 June as the prime minister has requested, but with the option of not using it.

In other words, the EU will have given a long extension but the British can leave at a moment of their choosing at any point during this extension.

Theresa May has hinted that the plan might work as she will make preparations for holding EU elections, a key issue for the EU.

However, she expects to have the withdrawal process wrapped up ahead of that and never need to go through with holding the election.

No deal remains default position

There is no doubt the mood in Westminster has changed over the last week and the search for a deal seems to have trumped a no-deal Brexit.

However, there is a difference between sentiment and reality and the reality is that unless something happens, the default position next Friday is still a no-deal Brexit. That is the cloud that hangs over exporters and farmers who are most exposed to trade with Britain as well of course as across the Irish border.

The comments this week by the central bank about the possibility of sterling reaching parity with the euro are a reminder that trade in Irish agricultural produce has already felt the severe effect of Brexit which could get worse because of currency alone.