THE Irish premier Leo Varadkar has claimed a soft Brexit could strengthen Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.

Visiting the country for the first time since his election victory in June, Varadkar set out his vision or the EU’s relationship with the UK post-exit.

Varadkar repeated his hope that Brexit would not ultimately happen – suggesting a second referendum might deliver a different outcome – but he said if it did proceed, it would be in no one’s interests to create trading barriers.

The Fine Gael leader said if Brexit resulted in the UK also exiting the customs union and single market, he would like to see a bilateral EU-UK customs union and a deep free trade arrangement with the UK, potentially through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), that includes non-EU countries such as Iceland and Norway.

Two of Northern Ireland’s parties, Sinn Fein and the SDLP, have demanded that the country secures special designated EU status post-Brexit to reflect the difficulties that trading restrictions would pose at the Irish border.

Unionists are wary of the idea, however, as they claim it would differentiate Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

Varadkar said a “hard” Brexit would require a “unique solution” for Northern Ireland, adding: “I would hope Unionist parties for example, who would be keen to preserve and protect the Union, would see how it is much easier to do that if in fact the United Kingdom stays in the customs union and stays in the single market because that takes away any need for any sort special arrangement or bespoke solution for Northern Ireland at all.”

Varadkar then moved to dispel the suggestion that the Irish government favoured making the Irish Sea the EU/UK border. “It’s not a proposal that I am tabling and I wouldn’t like us to be in that position,” he said.

A UK Government spokeswoman said in response that the UK was seeking “deep and special” future trade and customs agreements, and that the Irish border must be “as seamless and frictionless as possible for trade”. She added that the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland must be preserved.

Earlier in the day the Taoiseach had said that he was “willing to drop everything” to assist Northern Ireland’s politicians to break the deadlock and restore a power-sharing government at Stormont before crucial Brexit negotiations get under way in the autumn.

Following discussion with Theresa May, he said that he and the Prime Minister are prepared to get directly involved in the talks if no agreement is made. Varadkar stressed that it was crucial a deal was done for Northern Ireland’s voice to be heard.

Describing the gulf between Sinn Fein and the DUP as “wide and deep”, the Taoiseach said he did not believe the differences between the two main parties were insurmountable.

Varadkar warned that Brexit was the biggest challenge facing this generation and that every single aspect of life in Northern Ireland could be affected by it.