Problems over Northern Ireland Protocol ‘very serious’, warns PM
THE SITUATION surrounding the Northern Ireland Protocol is “now very serious”, the Prime Minister has indicated.
Boris Johnson spoke to Irish premier Micheal Martin about the post-Brexit arrangements yesterday.
In a Downing Street account of the call, the two leaders agreed on the vital importance of restoring the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland as soon as possible.
The Prime Minister was said to have made clear that the situation in respect of the protocol was now very serious.
He also said that the balance of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement was being undermined and the recent elections had further demonstrated that the protocol was not sustainable in its current form.
“Despite repeated efforts by the UK Government over many
months to fix the protocol, including those sections related to the movement of goods and governance, the European Commission had not taken the steps necessary to help address the economic and political disruption on the ground,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
“The Prime Minister reiterated that the UK Government would take action to protect peace and political stability in Northern Ireland if solutions could not be found.”
However, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has warned the UK Government against taking unilateral action on the protocol.
Mr Varadkar told Irish broadcaster RTE: “We can’t have any unilateral action from the UK.
“This is an international agreement, they have to honour their obligations. I was in the Wirral with Boris Johnson. I know what he agreed to.
“The people of Northern Ireland voted and they did not vote for a majority of MLAs who want the protocol to be scrapped.
“So the British Government has to have regard to that. This is a democracy and an election just happened.
“The British Prime Minister and the Secretary of State need to be wise to that, if they’re not already.”