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File image of Taoiseach Micheál Martin. RollingNews.ie

UK and EU need to 'knuckle down' and resolve dispute over NI Protocol, Taoiseach says

UK Brexit Minster David Frost will hold further talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic tomorrow.

THE TAOISEACH HAS urged the UK and EU to resolve the dispute over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements.

UK Brexit Minster David Frost will hold further talks with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic tomorrow, with the UK still warning that it could unilaterally suspend parts of the NI deal unless major changes are made.

But Micheál Martin has said this evening he was encouraged that progress is being made and the “mood music” has changed.

In a BBC interview, Martin cautioned the UK against taking the step of triggering Article 16 of the Protocol, the step which would suspend parts of the arrangements.

Martin said the European Commission had put forward a “comprehensive package of measures” to address the concerns raised about the protocol, adding that some EU members thought Sefcovic had gone “too far” in the concessions he had offered to reduce checks.

He said he believed serious talks were taking place between the UK and EU and “where there is a will, there is a way, and I think both sides just need to knuckle down and get it resolved”.

Negotiations on the Brexit trade deal a year ago stretched until 24 December and Martin said “don’t leave it to Christmas Eve this year”.

Asked whether he could trust UK prime minister Boris Johnson, the Taoiseach said: “I get on well with Boris Johnson on a personal level.”

Today, Frost told peers that the option of using Article 16 remained on the table despite speculation a deal was within reach.

Martin said “my own view is that unilateralism never works” and using Article 16 would have a “very negative” impact.

In UK Parliament, Frost said Brussels should not interpret his “reasonable tone” in talks to imply any softening of the UK’s position.

He told the House of Lords: “Whatever messages to the contrary the EU think they have heard or read, our position has not changed.

We would prefer to reach a negotiated agreement if we can. That is the best way forward for the stability and the prosperity of Northern Ireland.

“But I want to be clear, I would not recommend any outcome from the negotiations that I did not believe safeguarded political, economic or social stability in Northern Ireland.

“In such circumstances, we would obviously need to provide the necessary safeguards using Article 16 and those safeguards are very much on the table and they are a legitimate provision in the protocol.”

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    Mute Maggie Elizabeth Walsh
    Favourite Maggie Elizabeth Walsh
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    Mar 5th 2012, 11:24 AM

    This law will do nothing to stop violent people being violent. It will simply take the onus off the police to sort it out, now abused men and women will be told its their fault for not doing the adequate checks in the first place.

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    Mute John Conniffe
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    Mar 5th 2012, 11:33 AM

    Seems a good idea, but I’d be very worried about all the privacy of information issues. If someone applied to gain access to information held another person’s file, what proof would the have to give to confirm that they are in a relationship with that first person? What structures would be in place to avoid misuse by marketing / profiling agencies…

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    Mute Multi talentless
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    Mar 5th 2012, 12:14 PM

    Many people know that their partners are violent long before they raise a hand to them , i know some never leave even when given the oppurtunity arises.
    I don’t think This law will change anything

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    Mute Donal McCarthy
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    Mar 5th 2012, 1:35 PM

    I think the main problem here is that the vast majority of the perpetrators of domestic violence never make it to the courts, never mind acquire a conviction for it.

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    Mute Charly Julienne
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    Mar 5th 2012, 4:45 PM

    I hate the trend of naming laws after victims. It encourages the passing of bad laws (I’m not talking about this one specifically) by appealing to emotion over reason.

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    Mute Sean Mc Avinue
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    Mar 6th 2012, 2:42 AM

    Wouldn’t you like to know the history of a car before you buy it?

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    Mute Gemma Hickey
    Favourite Gemma Hickey
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    Mar 6th 2012, 11:12 AM

    If some one hits you or slaps you once they will more than likely do it again, so there is no need for this law just people need to wise up and realise that if it happens once its time to get out just leve, dont ask why, dont listen to the made up excuses, just run . This law is just another way of invading privacy, anyone think what may happen in the event of a wrongful conviction, because this happens too.

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