Coveney says ending Northern Ireland protocol is unrealistic

Wednesday, 3 February 2021 10:50

The Foreign Affairs Minister says doing away with the Northern Ireland protocol is unrealistic.

The North's First and Deputy First Ministers will hold talks with the European Commission and the British Government today over it's implementation, as the DUP has launched a campaign for the protocol to be scrapped.

It follows Europe's decision to trigger and subsequently revoke Article 16 of the protocol on Friday.

Some checks at Northern Irish ports have been halted over fears for staff safety after graffiti opposing the Irish Sea border was painted in Loyalist areas.

Minister Simon Coveney says the Government is willing to engage with the DUP to make the protocol work for everyone.

"Breaking off relationships in the context of north-south cooperation is not the way to go about this.

"We will work with all political leaders, in particular leaders of Unionism if the want to work with us, to try and find ways of making the protocol work.

"The idea that we can just do away with the protocol I think is unrealistic, because what are we going to replace it with?"

Coveney says ending Northern Ireland protocol is unrealistic

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