UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (left)  and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have spoken by phone this evening.

Tonight.

On the blower.

“They shared perspectives on the Withdrawal Agreement. The Prime Minister indicated that the Withdrawal Agreement in its current form will not get through the House of Commons, that the backstop would need to be removed, and that an alternative solution is required.

“The Taoiseach reiterated the EU27 position that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be reopened, and emphasised the importance of the legally operable guarantee to ensure no hard border and continued free trade on the island of Ireland.

“The Prime Minister made clear that the Common Travel Area, which long predates the UK and Ireland joining the EU, would not be affected by the ending of freedom of movement after Brexit.

“They agreed that their teams would maintain close contact over the coming weeks, while recognising that negotiations take place between the UK and the EU27 Task Force.

“They also agreed to meet in Dublin in early September.”

Government statement tonight

Johnson tells Varadkar that Common Travel Area will remain after Brexit (RTÉ)

Pics: Getty

‘sup?

‘Link’ (above) arrived at the Dublin SPCA recently looking “scared, sore, itchy, underweight and very sad”.

A short time later…

Aw.

DSPCA writes:

Link’s dreams came true when a couple – David and Alice – [adopted him] brought him home and showered him with love…

Dublin SPCA (Facebook)

A still from the tracker mortgage TV ad from The Financial Regulator in 2007

Via The Irish Examiner:

…Already, 103 complaints relating to tracker mortgages are being assessed as banks believe that borrowers left it too late to lodge their claim. However, Ger Deering [Financial Services Ombudsman] said up to 500 complaints are likely to require further assessment.

Mr Deering has expressed concern that banks are using the time limit clause to potentially exclude some of those affected.

He said he is currently dealing with 1,141 complaints related to tracker mortgages. Of these, 103 are being assessed with regard to whether or not they fall outside the statutory time limit, but he expects this number to increase.

Tracker Mortgage Scandal: Hundreds may find their complaints judged out of date (Kevin O’Neill, irish Examiner)

Thirsty.

Name that engine, anyone?

Irish Rail Archives

Alternatively, if you prefer mono….

Lartigue Mono Rail

This afternoon.

Semple Stadium, Thurles, County Tipperary.

What time’s Cactus World News on?

Hic.

Tipperary prepare for homecoming in Semple Stadium (RTÉ)

Earlier: A Limerick A Day

The Canary Islands this morning in a view taken from Santa Cruz de Tenerife island, Spain

This afternoon.

The blaze — described by the local fire department as “a monster” — was racing across parched woodlands into Tamadaba Natural Park, regarded as one of the jewels on Gran Canaria, a mountainous volcanic island in the Atlantic Ocean archipelago off northwest Africa.

Thousands flee from ‘monster’ wildfire on Canary Islands (AP)

Pic: AP

This morning.

Medicinal cannabis campaigner and author Vera Twomey went on Cork’s 96FM Opinion Line with PJ Coogan to discuss her book ‘For Ava’.

Fergal Barry writes:

PJ asked Vera “the question she was never asked before”. Hear her fondest memory from the last few years of struggle.

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Technological University Dublin has 120 places available for mature students wishing to return to education.

The TU Dublin Access Foundation Programme is designed to “encourage people who have been away from education for an extended period to pursue a third-level qualification”.

Access Programme lecturer Dr Brian Murphy said:

The Access Foundation Programme prepares mature students personally and academically to undertake undergraduate programmes across a range of disciplines in TU Dublin (City, Tallaght and Blanchardstown campuses), including Science & Health, Engineering & Built Environment, Business, Community Development, Early Childhood Development, Computer Science and Arts & Tourism….

The TU Dublin Access Foundation Programme is full-time commitment with approximately 22 hours of class time per week and a further 20 hours of independent study.

The programme runs from September to May each year. The Access Programme is free of charge and students may be eligible for the Back to Education Allowance.

Applications close on August  23 at 5pm. Any mature student interested in applying should email johanna.king@dit.ie .

Access Programme

Broadsheet.ie