The EU Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier offered reassurances to Ireland that nothing will put peace at risk in the upcoming negotiations. In a speech to both houses of the Irish parliament, he pledged to help the Irish Republic avoid a return to a hard border with Northern Ireland after Brexit, but said the UK’s departure from the EU would have consequences for customs controls. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was also in Ireland this week. He told a meeting in the Irish Republic of Europe’s centre-right political groups that a “hard border” on the island would be a disaster.

Brexit Secretary David Davis said he does not accept that issues surrounding the Irish border can be resolved in the first stage of the UK’s negotiations with the EU. On ITV’s Peston On Sunday programme, he said it was “wholly illogical” to think that the border issues can be separated from a trade deal. He asked: “How on earth do you resolve the issue of the border unless you know what the customs agreement is, what the free trade agreement is, whether you need to charge tariffs at the border?”

Sinn Féin reacted angrily to comments made by DUP leader Arlene Foster who described the party’s leader in the North, Michelle O’Neill, as an “attractive blonde” in an interview with The Sunday Independent. When asked what word she would associate with Michelle O’Neill, Mrs Foster answered “blonde”. She continued: “Michelle is very attractive. She presents herself very well and she always is, you know, her appearance is always very the same. You never see her without her make-up. You never see her without her hair (looking) perfect.” Sinn Féin MLA Elisha McCallion said the remarks were unacceptable, and called on Mrs Foster to withdraw them.

A draft of the Labour Party’s election manifesto was leaked, showing leader Jeremy Corbyn’s plans to nationalise energy, rail and mail and to introduce a 20:1 pay cap for businesses. It ruled out a “no deal” Brexit and refused to set a migration target. Plans also included increased spending on education and health and levies on business and industry. The party said it would fund its programme through raising taxes and £250billion of borrowing over the next decade.

Emmanuel Macron was sworn in as French President. At his inauguration he promised to restore the country’s global standing and to “give the French back the confidence to believe in themselves”. He said his term in office would see the European Union “reformed and re-launched”. In last Sunday’s run-off election with the National Front’s Marine Le Pen, he recorded a resounding victory with 66% of the vote.