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Taoiseach speaking in Rathmines today. Christina Finn

Taoiseach says he 'takes heart' from UK PM's comments about Northern Ireland Protocol

Liz Truss said a negotiated solution with the EU would have to deliver ‘all of the things we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill’

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN says he takes “heart” from the UK’s Prime Minister’s comments about the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

Liz Truss said a negotiated solution with the EU would have to deliver “all of the things we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill”. 

Her comments came after former Northern Ireland secretary Shailesh Vara asked her to confirm that she will press ahead with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill if negotiations with the European bloc are not “forthcoming”.

Vara said: “It is the standard practice of the European Union that when they can’t get their way in negotiations with the UK, they play for time and wait for a new leader, who they hope will have a different view to their predecessor.

“For the sake of clarity, will my right honourable friend confirm that it is the UK’s preferred option to have a negotiated settlement as far as the Northern Ireland Protocol is concerned. But if that is not forthcoming, then we will proceed with the Protocol Bill that is currently going through Parliament?,” he said. 

Truss replied: “My preference is for a negotiated solution, but it does have to deliver all of the things we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

“And what we cannot allow is for this situation to drift because my number one priority is protecting the supremacy of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement.”

Asked about her comments, Micheál Martin said: “I take heart from the Prime Minister’s comments that her preferred approach to the protocol issues is to have it resolved by negotiation. That is certainly our view also and that of the European Union.”

The Taoiseach said he looked forward to speaking to the Uk prime minister “within the next day or two”. 

“I look forward to talking to the British prime minister to put our own ideas and particularly to make it very clear that we believe there is a pathway to a resolution of the protocol issue.

“We accept that there has been legitimate issues raised in terms of the operation of the protocol. We also believe that the protocol has operated well, for different sectors of the Northern Ireland economy, particularly manufacturing and agriculture.

“There are certain issues around the consumer sector. And we believe with goodwill, the European Union is ready to be flexible and responsive. And if the European Union and United Kingdom can engage in a process, we believe there’s a pathway to resolving that particular issue,” said the Taoiseach. 

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    Mute Gerry Campbell
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    Sep 7th 2022, 5:08 PM

    Ah Stop, shur that wan is a snake,she could say the opposite tomorrow.

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    Mute Steve O'Hara-Smith
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    Sep 7th 2022, 7:29 PM

    @Gerry Campbell: No she won’t, she said it perfectly clearly but she’s not being heard. Either the EU agree to the changes in her NI bill or they will pass the bill and do what they want anyway.

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    Mute David Van-Standen
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    Sep 7th 2022, 8:34 PM

    @Steve O’Hara-Smith: Micheál is hearing it, but instead of acknowledging and questioning it, he’s spinning it as a positive with his taking heart comment, so he can claim to be shocked and disappointed when it all ends in tears…

    41
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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Sep 7th 2022, 6:11 PM

    UK will have no trade deal with the EU or the US if they don’t come to an agreement. Let them sit on the periphery of Europe for a few years and see how well they get on.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 7th 2022, 6:48 PM

    @Seán Ó Briain: and any deals that have signed so far are cut and pastes or are worth less than what they had when part of the EU or are with nations that they do not tarde with much. They really do not have much leverage on their own. Nations are wary as they see that the brits have a tendency to want to change agreements that they have already signed for.

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    Mute Liam Clyne
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    Sep 7th 2022, 5:12 PM

    Shailesh Vara who denied asking if he needed a passport to visit Derry ..

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 7th 2022, 5:48 PM

    Someone tell her there is already a “negotiated solution with the EU would have to deliver “all of the things we set out in the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill”. Her clown signed it.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Sep 7th 2022, 6:00 PM

    Oh and………….top o’ the mornin’ to ye Mrs O’Leary ☘

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    Mute Pat Maher
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    Sep 7th 2022, 11:06 PM

    @Paul Furey: Betty o’ Leary

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    Mute l
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    Sep 7th 2022, 5:34 PM

    Take heart.. Arse licker. She literally said eu who yu ld have to agree to everything they want. That is not negotiation.

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    Mute Damien Leahy
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    Sep 7th 2022, 7:15 PM

    Does he take heart from a rent freeze in Scotland?

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Sep 7th 2022, 11:24 PM

    How do you take heart from someone stating their only acceptable outcome before negotiations even arranged.

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    Mute @johnquaid
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    Sep 7th 2022, 10:08 PM

    She’s calling him tea sock instead of Taoiseach , she’s taking the wee wee,

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    Mute Jack Byrne
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    Sep 7th 2022, 6:51 PM

    “The whole map of Europe has been changed … but as the deluge subsides and the waters fall short we see the dreary steeples of Fermanagh and Tyrone emerging once again.”
    I think the message is we’ll get around to dealing with this absolute pain in the backside in due course. At the moment we have bigger fish to fry.

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    Mute @johnquaid
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    Sep 7th 2022, 10:08 PM

    She’s calling him tea sock instead of Taoiseach ffs , she’s taking the wee wee,

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    Mute Louis O'Dwyer
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    Sep 8th 2022, 8:31 AM

    Ha ha ha, the Tea Sock

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