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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.”
He says a lot of stuff does he not? But very rarely does anything, what a spoofer of the highest order ….
@Dave: People need to speak to other people, about serious things, seriously. Enough is enough, of not serious things being taken seriously, and vice versa. Great to see Micheal taking a firm stance about the fact a firm stance is needed for a firm stance to be taken. We live in wonderful sound bytey times!
@Dave: He and government need to knuckle down and resolve some of our problems – health service, education & housing for starters.
@NeilH100:
Health Service: 13th in the world
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)30818-8/fulltext
Education : 14th in the World
https://worldtop20.org/worldbesteducationsystem
Homelessness:
Ireland has the same houses per captia as Spain…
But we are number 1 in moaning… This has been the same from Sinners for years… Ireland isn’t in a bad position and we are way ahead of Northern Ireland.. Things to improve but I can’t see Sinner solving these problems, they have no concrete plans… NI has 75% economy depending on the UK government..
@Brendan McCarron: thank you. That really cracked me up.
The EU need to knuckle down and tell Boris to eff off….
@Paul Shepherd: Give him a knuckle sandwich.
I’m sure they’ll pay close attention to mehole’s whinging.
Everyone must understand that the DUP are still the underlying problem. No no no
@Aidan Haughey: nobody cares about the DUP anymore
@Hugh Morris: Possibly not the DUP per se, but the political will and notions the party represents. DUP star declines, that voter base doesn’t dissipate. It’ll find new homes in the other Unionist parties that will welcome migratory votes and only too readily modify their stance, policy and rhetoric to appease and maintain those voters. Westminster doesn’t care anymore, that much is certain. DUP threat to collapse the assembly won’t change that.
@Hugh Morris: Probably not in your little world, but I’m sure their voters do..
This man should have stuck with school teaching,I cannot honestly say apart from the smoking ban which would have being brought it eventually he has made a career of stuffing his pockets and surrounding himself with his lackeys and not to mention money resting in his wife’s account.
Maybe it’s a Cork thing but I doubt it.
@Paul Mc: jup jup LIKE.
@Paul Mc: Yes it is very much a Cork thing just as it is in every County and corner of Ireland.
The Taoiseach should knuckle down and get the boosters out as soon possible, and stop with his bull sh it deflections.
@Paul Gorry: Yeah. WTF isn’t that happening? Lash em out ffs.
Asked whether he could trust UK prime minister Boris Johnson, the Taoiseach said: “Ah, that’s very good.”
You need to knuckle down too
Of course the UK are going to trigger Article 16 , the EU knows this. I could’ve told told you that last year – that’s what they want and it doesn’t matter what concessions are made.
Lizard
The DUP are not as needed as they once were when they were in a cozy relationship with the Conservaties. They could bargain than now not so much.
have your say