Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Foster, whose party has been locked in talks with the U.K. Conservatives since Theresa May lost her majority in parliament in last week's election, said she hoped Brexit would benefit the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, Reuters reported.
An EU relationship similar to Norway's is the only model that could attract public and political support in Britain, without threatening EU principles or inflicting serious economic costs on either side.
The minister said it was important that any deal involved all five Stormont parties, and not just the DUP and Sinn Fein. Many have been frustrated by patchy contact with No. 10 and the departments preparing for Brexit, are also immensely alarmed by the Prime Minister's determination to curb net immigration to "tens of thousands a year".
Norway's "temporary" EEA membership has now stretched to 23 years.
The anticipated arrangement has forced the UK Government to reject suggestions its commitment to act with impartiality in Northern Ireland - as set out in the 1998 Good Friday Agreement - will be fatally undermined by any pact with the DUP.
Several Conservative and other leaders have cautioned against the coalition since it would compromise London's neutral position between the contending groups in Northern Ireland - the Republicans and Unionists - and adversely hit the Good Friday Agreement.
London terror attack suspect named
The mosques' worshippers, mainly from North and West Africa, had just left prayers during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Police are searching a residential address in Pentwyn, where Osborne is listed as living, in connection with the attack.
It is quite clear, however, that May did not have a good campaign, she was not an inspiring figure at all, she replied like a robot when asked questions on the campaign trail and her party's manifesto was roundly criticised for not taking into account people's concerns. Yet at no point since the referendum has the British government seemed less prepared and less sure about what Brexit should actually entail.
The devolved government of Northern Ireland is at a standstill at the moment and the threat of direct rule from Westminster via the DUP's new political allies won't do anything to help resolve soon-to-be-exacerbated political tensions in Northern Ireland.
And I made this clear in my letter to Donald Tusk triggering Article 50 and that we want to maintain the Common Travel Area between us to make sure the UK's withdrawal from the European Union does not harm the Republic of Ireland. A hard Brexit appeared very much on the cards.
The Lib Dems campaigned on calling for Britain to remain in the European Union and would push for retention of as close a continuing relationship as possible in return for parliamentary support. "It continues and when the deal is done, it will be done", a senior source in the Conservative Party said yesterday.
One minister sacked by May last summer, and who is close to David Cameron and George Osborne, said the internal battle that was about to break out between pro-and anti-EU factions could well be terminal for the Conservative party.
Mr Coveney stressed the importance of having an administration in place during the Brexit process.
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