Leo Varadkar said he regrets that 'in the same way Brexit was imposed on Northern Ireland without the support of both communities, the protocol was imposed on Northern Ireland without the support of two communities'
Leo Varadkar said the EU was willing to be"flexible" and"reasonable" in negotiations with the UK to achieve"broader support" within Northern Ireland for the post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Many unionists in Northern Ireland are vehemently opposed to arrangements they claim have weakened the region's place within the union. "And that wasn't possible at the time for various reasons, in part because the Executive was not functioning, so there was no-one to speak for Northern Ireland. But that has created difficulties.""There's no hard border between north and south, the Single Market's integrity has been protected, the Northern Ireland economy is outperforming the UK economy," he said.
The protocol is not yet fully operational, with several grace periods in place limiting the volume of checks required on trade."I think there is some room to manoeuvre when it comes to the grace periods," he said. "You know the protocol fundamentally is there to make sure there's no hard border between north and south, and there isn't, and also to protect the integrity of the Single Market, and I've acknowledged that the Single Market's integrity has been protected, notwithstanding the fact that it hasn't been fully implemented and fully enforced, and I think that's where there is room for flexibility.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taoiseach continues to back Donohoe after expenses statementDavos 2023: Varadkar says Ireland ‘will be affected’ by Microsoft job losses
Read more »
Varadkar rejects SF claims over Ireland's neutralityThe Taoiseach has rejected a claim from Sinn Féin that a vote in the European Parliament by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Green MEPs meant the Government was seeking to '[roll] back neutrality'.
Read more »
Varadkar sidesteps united Ireland question at Davos amid NI protocol talksDavos 2023: Taoiseach said protocol talks at a ‘sensitive point’
Read more »
Judge cites possible ‘clandestine activity’ as ex-Davy executives lose court challengePaddy Kearney, a Northern Ireland developer, is suing Davy and 16 former executives at the stockbroker
Read more »
North deadlock: Heaton-Harris rules out immediate election if power-sharing deadline missedIf the Stormont parties do not agree to form an administration in Belfast on Thursday, the UK government assumes a legal duty at midnight to call a snap Assembly election in the North.
Read more »