Meanwhile,Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill has said a united Ireland would offer Northern Ireland a "way back in" to the European Union, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill said. Mr Frost also suggested a deal could be done next month - and insisted the UK had no intention of threatening the integrity of the EU's Single Market. Tweeting in advance of next week's meeting with EU opposite number Michel Barnier, Mr Frost said: "Our assessment is that agreement can be reached in September and we will work to achieve this if we can."

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"As we keep saying, we are not looking for a special or unique agreement. We want a deal with, at its core, an FTA like those the EU has agreed with other friendly countries, like Canada."

Nevertheless, he warned: "The UK's sovereignty, over our laws, our courts, or our fishing waters, is of course not up for discussion and we will not accept anything which compromises it - just as we aren't looking for anything which threatens the integrity of the EUs single market."

Speaking prior to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit to Northern Ireland today, Ms O'Neill, whose party is unequivocally committed to Irish unity, said planning needed to begin immediately - and claimed the UK Government's "reckless" approach to Brexit meant more people were likely to vote for it.

She said: "Now is the time to plan for unity and to start to put the facts on the table. "Let people understand what does an all-Ireland health service look like, what does an all-Ireland education system look like."

Large numbers of people in a border poll would vote for a united Ireland, Ms O'Neill said.

She added: "So for a lot of people in this decade we have in front of us, they're going to be considering which union they wish to be part of and the EU have offered us a route back in.

"So for some people it may not be about Britishness versus Irishness, it may be about do they value their European citizenship.

"I think that's going to be a very interesting debate."

Mr Johnson will outline the first stage of plans to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland's foundation during his visit.

Speaking in advance of his trip, he said: "Together, we will make sure Northern Ireland is ready to take full advantage of the many opportunities that lie ahead and that no part of Northern Ireland is left behind."

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6:07am update: 2 million EU citizens granted right to stay in the UK after Brexit

TWO million EU citizens have been granted the right to remain in the UK after Brexit, the BBC has reported.

The two million EU citizens were already residing in the UK though an additional 1.5 million people who have lived in the country for under five years were granted pre-settled status.

Both statuses give holders the right to live, work, and use the NHS in the UK.

Under the Home Offices settlement scheme, EU citizens have until June 30 next year to apply for the status.

The government has said anyone living in the UK who fails to apply before the deadline will not be automatically deported.

However, Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine blasted the fact the scheme does not provide settled status holders with any physical documentation proving their status.

She said: They must not become the victims of a new Windrush-style scandal.

4:03am update: US-UK trade talks hit 'deeply disappointing' whisky roadblock

Post-Brexit trade negotiations have taken a hit this week after the US said it would uphold 25 percent tariffs on Scottish and Irish single-malt whisky which have cost the UK 300 million in lost sales.

International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said she had previously warned against new tariffs on the UK, that fresh levies on blended whisky and gin had been avoided, and that tariffs on shortbread had been lifted.

However, existing tariffs on single malt whisky remain, which Scotch Whisky Association CEO Karen Betts said is deeply disappointing and inflicts huge damage.

Ms Truss said she is stepping up talks with the US to remove them as soon as possible.

1:48am update: FTSE drops over 'double whammy' Brexit and Furlough fears

The UKs FTSE 100 stock index fell 1.5 percent at close yesterday amid Brexit worries, analysts said.

The FTSE 100 represents the value of the 100 largest companies is the UK.

Joshua Mahony, an analyst from finance group IG, said the drop was because of a double whammy of concerns over Brexit and the end of the furlough scheme.

The next round of UK-EU Brexit talks are due to commence on Monday next week.

Edward Browne takes over live reporting from Steven Brown

5.45pm update: Boris Johnson rules outtrade border down the Irish Sea

Boris Johnson has said there will be a trade border down the Irish Sea "over my dead body" following Brexit.

During a visit to Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister reiterated his promise that businesses in the region would enjoy unfettered access to markets in England, Scotland and Wales.

He has also agreed to "intensify" partnership arrangements with the Republic of Ireland and said more work could be done on bilateral deals.

"There will be no border down the Irish Sea - over my dead body."

The next round of Brexit talks will begin on August 18 between the Prime Minister's adviser David Frost and the European Union's Michel Barnier in Brussels.

4.30pm update:Ireland panic: Brexit and COVID-19 blamed as Dublin faces devastating recession

Ireland has been warned the country could be heading for a devastating recession with both the outbreak of coronavirus and consequences of Brexit blamed.

According to the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, the economy may have shrunk by 21 percent in April after businesses were forced to close following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Experts claim the crisis has been worsened by Brexit.

Last week, latest figures from the Exchequer found a deficit of 7.4 billion in public finances in July compared to a surplus of 896 million which was recorded in the same month last year.

The deterioration of 8.3 billion was reportedly due to increases in expenditure following the outbreak of the deadly virus.

3.35pm update: Irish Prime Minister sees 'landing zone' for Brexit deal

Ireland's Prime MinisterMichel Martin met with Boris Johnson today to discussthe UK's post-Brexit trade negotiations with the EU.

It seems to me that there is a landing zone if that will is there on both sides, and I think it is, said Martin, who became prime minister in June.

My own gut instinct is that there is a shared understanding that we dont need another shock to the economic system that a sub-optimal trade agreement would give alongside of the enormous shock of COVID, he told reporters in Belfast.

3pm update: Steven Brown takes over fromCiaran McGrath

2.46pm update: Johnson vows to develop UK's relationship with Ireland

The Prime Minister has promised to develop Britain's relationship with Ireland after meeting the new Taoiseach.

Boris Johnson greeted Micheal Martin with an elbow bump outside Hillsborough Castle in Co Down.

It was Mr Johnson's first visit to Northern Ireland since Stormont powersharing was restored in January, and his first face-to-face meeting with his Irish opposite number since a new Government was formed in Dublin.

Mr Johnson said: "I had the honour of meeting the Taoiseach several years ago. I am very pleased to develop our friendship and relationship now."

It was his first visit since the coronavirus pandemic struck and there have been calls for closer collaboration between Ireland and Britain to tackle the threat.

Mr Johnson added: "It's great to see you Taoiseach, it's great to be here in Northern Ireland, and we look forward to developing our relationship in all sorts of ways - east-west, north-south, you name it."

2pm update:Supertrawler plot - Brexit free-for-all as fisherman warns ships STAKING CLAIM in UK waters

With Britain due to sever ties with the European Union - and leave the Common Fisheries Policy - at the end of the year, a fisherman has warned foreign supertrawlers who regularly plunder UK waters may be seizing the current uncertainty to stake their claim in the meantime.

Jeremy Percy, director of the New Under Tens Fishing Association (NUTFA) was speaking after a study by Greenpeace revealed the massive vessels - none of which is UK-owned - have already doubled the amount of time they have spent fishing in specially designated Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) in 2020 compared with last year.

Greenpeace is calling for the Government to crack down on ships which operate in MPAs at the end of the transition period - but Mr Percy is concerned supertrawlers are increasing the time they spend in UK waters as part of a long-term strategy.

Mr Percy, whose organisation represents boats which are under ten metres in length, said he had become curious after seeing supertrawlers in action recently.

He added: "When we observed the vessels fishing off the Sussex coast, they didn't seem to be catching much.

"I explained this to a good friend of mine who is an expert in this sort of fishing and he didn't think they would be making any money there so the idea that they were continuing to build up a track record to strengthen their arguments post Brexit seemed sensible."

1.46pm update: Martin offers warm words to Johnson

Ireland's recently installed Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the relationship between him and Boris Johnson would work "very warmly".

He said: "We look forward to a very warm engagement.

"It is important for us both in terms of the British-Irish relationship which has been the cornerstone of much progress on the island of Ireland and between our two countries for well over two to three decades, and we want to maintain that.

"It is challenging times ahead with Covid, Brexit, all of that."

Mr Martin said it was particularly fitting the engagement was taking place so soon after the death of former SDLP leader John Hume.

He said: "We remember John at moments like this because he did so much to facilitate these kind of meetings and make them much more regular in the normal course of events."

Mr Johnson agreed that the meeting provided an appropriate moment to remember Mr Hume's legacy.

Shortly after arriving at the castle, the Taoiseach joined the Prime Minister for a walk in the grounds.

12.44pm update: Barnier retweets agenda

Michel Barnier has responded to David Frost's earlier announcement by retweeting a post by EU spokesman Daniel Ferrie in which he share the timetable for next week's meetings.

Mr Ferrie commented: "The agenda for next weeks round of EU-UK negotiations with @MichelBarnier & @DavidGHFrost is now available online. Talks will take place @EU_Commission in Brussels."

Mr Barnier added: "Within 5 months the transitional period #Brexit ends: United Kingdom leaves European Union single market & customs union.

"Changes are inevitable, with or without agreement on the new association."

12.35pm update: Brexit on the agenda for Boris during Northern Ireland visit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has started a series of meetings with political leaders on a visit to Northern Ireland.

He is meeting with the region's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill at Hillsborough Castle, where he will later have his first face-to-face meeting with Ireland's premier Micheal Martin.

Mr Johnson is visiting Northern Ireland for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

He is expected to outline the first stage of plans to mark the centenary of Northern Ireland's foundation.

Discussions are also expected to take place around the response to Covid-19, rebuilding the economy and Brexit.

12.09pm update:As US talks hit barrier, who should UK prioritise trade deal with? POLL

Brexit trade talks between the UK and US have been halted due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Which country do you think Britain should prioritise a trade deal with?

After unshackling from the EU earlier this year Britain is trying to tie up swift trade deals with major partners like the US and capitalise on its new freedom to strike bilateral deals rather than EU-wide ones.

But talks hit a major stumbling block when both sides agreed to postpone negotiations until next spring due to ongoing concerns over the COVID-19 crisis.

As well as the US, the UK is also eyeing up trade deals with the EU, Japan, Australia and New Zealand in the coming months as it makes the most of its new found Brexit freedom.

11.44am update: 'We won't compromise,' warns David Frost

UK Chief Negotiator David Frost has said UK sovereignty over its laws, courts and fishing waters was "not up for discussion", adding that he would not accept anything which compromises any of that.

Mr Frost also suggested a deal could be done next month.

11.25am update: Trade talks agenda puts fishing centre stage

The importance of fishing rights has been highlighted after the publication of a timetable for trade talks due to get underway next week.

The agenda includes four two-hour sessions devoted to the issue on Wednesday and Thursday.

11.04am update: Theresa May's 'loathing' of ex-Irish leader derailed Brexit talks - shock claim

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Brexit: This is NOT up for discussion! EU sent ferocious warning on UK fishing waters - Daily Express