Unionists: Brexit rules are hurting the North
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has accused the Irish government of harming Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK through its support for the Brexit deal.
His comment came after he met taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Irish prime minister.
The DUP leader said he warned the Taoiseach that unionists cannot be expected to work as normal with Ireland when Northern Ireland’s relationship with the rest of the UK is “being harmed on a daily basis” by the protocol.
Sir Jeffrey said he told the Martin that unionist concerns over the protocol are growing, and of the potential for it to cause further political harm later in the year.
“Unionists cannot reasonably be expected to work as normal on a north/south basis when our relationship with the rest of the UK is being harmed on a daily basis by this protocol,” he said.
The taoiseach, speaking separately, said he acknowledged the “concerns of the unionist community are sincere”.
“But I indicated that the mechanisms are there in the UK-EU trade agreement to resolve these issues and the issues around the protocol,” he said.
“Our sense has been that the EU Commission has been flexible and ready to respond to the situation. We do need to see similar flexibility from the UK Government side.”
Unionists are strongly opposed to the impact on the additional checks under the protocol on trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, arguing it places a border down the Irish Sea.
Legal action has been taken against the protocol and loyalists have held demonstrations.