Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there is"no substitute" for negotiations between the European Union and the UK government to resolve issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.He said:"There is no substitute for a substantive series of negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom government in respect of solving issues in relation to the protocol.
"That came to light last October when we felt that the vice president of the European Commission had made very significant advances as a base for further discussions. "This was a deal that the UK government signed up to, ratified in their parliament and they are now unhappy with aspects of it. Well, let's try to resolve those aspects in a meaningful way and that means getting into the tunnel and negotiate in a serious way."
"The Democratic Unionist Party were clear that they have no difficulty in taking up the deputy First Minister position but they have issues with the protocol."The Assembly and the Executive should operate parallel with the UK government and the European Union engaging in substantive negotiations to resolve issues which have arisen in respect of the operation of the protocol.
The Taoiseach's visit comes in the wake of the UK government's move to act unilaterally to scrap parts of the protocol. "EU remains ready to negotiate pragmatic solutions to outstanding protocol issues through partnership," Mr Coveney said."I thanked her for her statements and that of the Chancellor, standing up for international law and the Brexit deal," Mr Coveney said following his meeting.
The EU has cautioned against such a move and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke to the Taoiseach yesterday. "The current protocol is incompatible with the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The Irish Government can't have both," he said. Leader of Ulster Unionist Party Doug Beattie described this morning's meeting with the Taoiseach as"a good meeting," before adding:"We have a good relationship with the Taoiseach and the Taoiseach's office.
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