British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar established some common ground on Brexit on Monday when they met for the first time, but significant gaps remain, the British and Irish governments said.

In a joint statement, the two governments said that they were committed to securing a Brexit agreement with the European Union (EU), and the meeting was an essential and timely opportunity to establish a relationship and better understand each other's positions.

"While they agreed that the discussions are at an early stage, common ground was established in some areas although significant gaps remain," the governments said after the hour-long meeting. 

Johnson: Parliament actions don't daunt me

Speaking in Ireland alongside Varadkar, Johnson said he wanted a Brexit deal on October 18 and that he was undaunted by attempts by parliament to block a no-deal exit. 

"I'm absolutely undaunted by whatever may take place in parliament," Johnson said. "I think what the British people want us to do is to deliver a deal and to get on and take us out on October 31."

Noting he was bringing ideas on ways to resolve the Irish border backstop, Johnson stressed that a breakthrough was unlikely on Monday.

"I have one message that I want to land with you today, Leo, that is I want to find a deal, I want to get a deal," Johnson said. "Like you I've looked carefully at no-deal, I've assessed its consequences both for our country and yours."

"And yes, of course, we could do it, the UK could certainly get through it but be in no doubt that outcome would be a failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible," Johnson said. 

"So for the sake of business, for farmers, and millions of ordinary people who are counting on us to use our imagination and creativity to get this done. I want you to know I would overwhelmingly prefer to find an agreement."

Irish PM: No backstop is no deal

Ahead of his face-to-face talks with Johnson, Varadkar said on Monday that the EU had not received from Britain any alternatives to the so-called backstop provision in the Brexit divorce deal.

"No backstop is no deal," he said, noting the meeting between the pair was "an opportunity to see where there might be common ground."

The backstop is a provision in the withdrawal agreement Johnson's predecessor Theresa May struck with Brussels to keep the Irish border open regardless of the outcome of Britain's future relationship with the EU.

It would keep the country in the bloc's customs union until a long-term solution to trade terms is agreed.

(Cover: Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) gestures as he speaks next to Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin, Ireland, September 9, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from Reuters, AFP)