Ireland preparing for no-deal Brexit 'emergency': minister

Ireland faces an "emergency situation" if Britain leaves the EU without a deal, the country's foreign minister warned Friday, as the government published a draft legislation aimed at softening the blow.

The law is now expected to be approved by parliament but would not be enacted if Britain leaves with a deal.

"The country potentially faces an emergency situation which we are preparing for now in as comprehensive a way as we can", Simon Coveney told reporters.

"A disorderly Brexit will be a lose-lose-lose -- for the UK, for the EU and for Ireland. We cannot offset all of the damage that it will do but we are doing everything that we can," he said.

The so-called "Brexit omnibus bill" contains 15 parts, intending to limit disruption in provision of healthcare, power distribution, travel, immigration and student financial support between Britain and Ireland.

It also contains substantial alterations to taxation arrangements, should Britain become a "third country" by leaving the trading bloc without a withdrawal deal.

"We are doing all we can to avoid a no deal scenario, but we need to be ready in case it does happen," Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said in a statement.

"This special law enables us to mitigate against some of the worst effects of no deal by protecting citizens' rights, security, and facilitating extra supports for vulnerable businesses and employers."