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LAST UPDATE | 9 Sep 2020
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has expressed his concern to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the UK government’s attempts to undermine the withdrawal agreement it agreed with the EU.
In a phone call this evening, the Taoiseach set out “in forthright terms his concerns about the latest developments in London on Brexit, including the breach of an international treaty, the absence of bilateral engagement and the serious implications for Northern Ireland,” a spokesperson said.
Martin also stressed to Johnson that the British government should re-engage with EU negotiators urgently.
It emerged earlier this week that the UK is planning to renege on elements of the Brexit withdrawal agreement that it agreed last year with the EU.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis admitted yesterday the move would breach international law, and the move has caused alarm in Ireland and Europe.
Today, the British government published the proposed legislation that would, if passed into law, unpick key parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement.
A spokesperson for Johnson defended the bill this afternoon, saying the deal reached in 2019 was written “at pace” in “the most challenging” circumstances. During the successful election campaign for the Conservatives in late 2019, Johnson had described the deal as “oven ready”.
In an interview with Sky News this evening, Martin said the move from the British had left Irish parliamentarians “aghast” and added he’d expressed his “deep disappointment” to Johnson during their phone call.
He also said there was a particular sense of anger over the comments from NI Secretary Brandon Lewis.
In the context of Northern Ireland, he said the move from the British government could “become very divisive” there at a time when “politics is settling down”.
Martin added that the move had “eroded trust” for negotiators and that “real political will” is needed to reach a deal between the EU and the UK. At this time, he said he wasn’t optimistic a trade deal could be reached.
The Taoiseach had also expressed his concern about the move earlier today.
Martin said “meaningful negotiations can only proceed on the basis on mutual trust”.
“Unilateral actions which seek to change the operation of measures already agreed included in an International treaty and incorporated in domestic law do not build trust,” he said.
“Trust is fundamental in the conduct of any negotiations,” said the Taoiseach, conveying that he is “extremely concerned about the unilateral nature of the UK government’s actions”.
The government has also said a massive national effort will be needed to prepare for Brexit – regardless of whether or not there is a trade deal – with the transition period due to end at the beginning of 2021.
With reporting from Christina Finn
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What could possible go wrong with Martin fighting for our best interests?
@Hup Abù: *correction, I seem to have spelt right wrong
@Hup Abù: Not fair, he made his point in this quite ridiculous situation from Westminster without any normal diplomatic warning…
@Damian Moylan: Fair or not, I wouldn’t have an ounce of faith or trust in him as a negotiator or as a leader.
@Hup Abù: And your choice of negotiator or leader would be? Come on,don’t be shy…..
@Samhain.: A good question. I had to pick from this shambolic government it would be Coveny, failing that, the Tàiniste.
However in a fantasy football type scenario it would be Pearse Doherty.
@Hup Abù: Padraig Pearse.
@Damian Moylan: Martin made it because of the pressure put on him today, especially from Mary Lou.
Yeah… like the UK really cares what this tool has to say….
@John John: couldn’t give a toss if the UK care or not…they still need to be told.
@kieran: told what? They are no longer part of the corrupt union so they couldn’t care less…. and especially this clown.. if for one minute you think the UK care about this little island your way off
@John John: British indifference to Ireland is hardly a revelation, it’s been the source of most of the trouble between these two islands. Trouble is, part of this “little island” is in the UK so it’s in their interest to at least keep up with current events.
@John John: we’ve another ignorant one here. This country has the backing of the EU and powerful members of the US Congress. We won’t be bullied by the English anymore.
@John John: This little Island happens to be britains biggest surplus trade market in the EU and 2nd in the world.
It’s britains fifth biggest export market in the world. It sells more to Ireland than to China, Brazil, India, and Russia combined.
Irelands commissioner in the EU still holds the very important financial services portfolio (although not as big as trade).
Ireland has influence in USA in both Democrat and Republican parties Pelosi, Boyle and Republican Neal have already said there will be no deal of GFA is affected and Congress (Democrat majority) has to pass any trade deal.
So you can be damn sure that if Ireland plays its cards right they will care and care severely, this isn’t 1922 amadán and england can’t get away with such deceitful actions .
@John John: Yes they are, they decided that Northern Ireland will remain part of the “corrupt union” Bus, Under, thrown.
Coveney very strong today. Well done.
@Damian Moylan: Agreed. He looks more and more taoiseachy by the day…
@ruairi: Would that be a a part time Taoiseacht like Michael Martin , and a future part time Taoiseacht Leo Varadkar. Coveney ‘s ministerial portfolios certainly not a record to be proud of.
Expand French Irish shipping lanes. Rosslare Cherbourg. Cork Roscoff. Elelectricity inter connector to France needed.
@Damian Moylan: From the frying pan into the fire….. the Europeans don’t give a frig about Ireland and we’ll do well to treat both sides equally
The problem is the border all over again. Johnson effectively signed up to a border down the Irish Sea, and then pretty much all his Tory MPs voted for it, but at the same time Johnson claimed there would be no such border. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that then you’ve got a problem waiting to happen.
Now he wants to sign into law that goods signed off by the British govt can move freely from Northern Ireland into the rest of the UK. But what if such goods have come from the Republic of Ireland, or they move in the opposite direction? Some form of checks will be needed, and you’d then need a land border instead.
Johnson has always said the UK will not put up a border, so with this plan he’s clearly trying to force Ireland to do it instead, in order to protect the integrity of the single market. So then Downing Street can claim they’re sticking to the Good Friday Agreement. It’s a dirty game, that’s for sure.
@Mick Tobin: And the Brits are masters when it comes to dirty games.
Wonder what the serious consequences were that Martin talked about. Reckon the UK are about to suffer a severe shortage of kerrygold butter. That will show them….
@Enda Flaherty:
UK Trade deal with US will be difficult if that 2019 Withdrawal Agreement is tampered with by De Pfeffle and his merry brand of Brexiteers in any way that undermines 1998 Good Friday Agreement!
Micheal more than likely pointed that out to Boris.
@Rory J Leonard: indeed. Ireland has 3 bargaining chips: 1) US Congress will block any trade deal if GFA broken 2) a trade deal with EU is worth 300b to UK and Ireland needs to be on board 3) the majority of North’s trade with Britain goes via the shorter route of Southern ports so any kind of hard border will disrupt the North
@Rory J Leonard: And I am sure Borris pointed out that the UK can survive without a trade deal with the US alot longer than we can survive without access to the UK landbridge….we didn’t ask for Brexit but we could very easily get swallowed up if we think making threats against Johnson and his band of merry muppets or relying on things like the US refusing a trade deal. Sucks but we need Britain….
We will be very angry with you and we will write you a letter telling you how angry we are
@european liberal:
@european liberal:
Boris doesn’t give 2 flying F’s about what mehole or anyone else has to say for that matter…as long as they come out shining from the $hite they don’t care.
Is that two slithery snakes .
@George J Stephens: NO ones a worm .
The irony is, a border politician, mairead mcguiness is in charge of Eu financial services now….
@Damian Moylan: The City of London et al
@Damian Moylan: : the City of London is not in the EU also the commissioner has very limited power otherwise we would all be paying a transaction tax so to say she incharge is a stretch
@Paddy Hopper: i know Eu approval of City financial services is required. The new Eu rules dont suit people and institutions in London trying to hide money from high wealth individuals
Dublin has been consistent in denying the UK any bilateral discussion on the big issues affecting these islands preferring to hide behind the likes of Mr Barnier and the rest of the Brussels bully boys – Boris is right to protect Northern Ireland from EU aggression and protect the GFA. The Ireland- Northern Ireland protocol has been exposed as nothing more than a instrument to hammer us and drive the Irish nationalist agenda and Unionism was never going to accept it.
@Henry Reilly: It’s alright Henry, when the farmers are brought to the brink and commerce in the North becomes increasingly difficult, I’m sure yourself and your Unionist comrades will see the light and play a different Tune. Tis all about the economy stupid. A divided Ireland just doesn’t make any sense… you know it, Boris knows it and everybody else in Ireland and the UK knows it.
@Henry Reilly: EU rules, which the UK was fundamental in creating, dictates that the EU negotiates on behalf of the block as a whole. Individual countries are very limited in what they can negotiate themselves. So yes, Dublin hasn’t don’t much bilateral negotiation.
@Henry Reilly: Boris Johnson lied to the Unionists, he told them when he became PM that there will be no border checks in the Irish sea. He lied – blatantly. Boris signed an agreement with the EU (27 EU leaders) that Northern Ireland would stay in the EU customs area and it was ratified and passed into law by both parliaments. Boris wants to renege on it as he lied to Northern Ireland and is willing to break international law in order to improve his own record. Understand?
@Henry Reilly: are you the bigoted councillor?
@David Jacobsen: poor Henry hasn’t realised yet that the real Brits don’t want him and his ilk.
@Hup Abù: Farming here will thrive in a no deal – the UK only produces 47% of the food we need. When there are 40% tariffs on Butter, Cheese Beef and pork coming from the 26 counties it will be Irish farmers who will wist that Leo and Simon had tried to get a sensible deal. NI produce in the green lane to the UK 66 million UK mainlanders tariff and quota free while RoI produce is rotting in Dublin will strengthen the UK. The EU will shaft Ireland when it suits just as they did by dumping Europes banking debt on the ordinary decent Irish people.
@David Jacobsen: The EU deliberately misled Boris into believing that a tariff and quota free trade deal would be guaranteed if the Ireland- Northern Ireland protocol was agreed. The EU has subsequently signaled its intent to use the protocol as a weapon to damage the UK. Boris had to create the UK internal market legislation to keep the peace here. The protocol will still be evoked and there will be no hard border but the UK needs the necessary legislation to ensure that the UK internal market is unfettered.
@Henry Reilly: boris was mislead… please stop embarrassing yourself
@Fergus Lynch: Fergus – if ever there was a chance to dump us it is now and our government is so determined to ensure that we are fully integrated into the UK it will break international law to do so. You need to take a look at how the EU will facilitate trade between the UK and R0I. 40% of your volume trade that creates jobs and keeps an economy ticking over is with the UK. Will Brussels throw you under a bus by making Dublin enact WTO if no deal ?
@Dave: Leo said ‘we do want to be your friend, and your ally, your Athena’ – Dublin cannot be trusted. Your politicians are EU lackies.
@Henry Reilly: the delusion is strong in you. Funny the Scots and Welsh are enraged by this proposed bill as it peals back devolution yet here you are spouting that boris loves you and is doing it for union, you sound like an abused wife.
@Henry Reilly: You should come down to Dublin sometime, you might be surprised at how much the ideas you’ve fabricated in your head about us are complete fallacies. Or in other words complete bigotry and ignorance, ritually handed down over the generations. Jaysus even Big Ian came to his senses before his wheel of life ran out.
Liberating Newry and Derry?
If we build the gasification plant in Limerick we dont need the Uk gas connector full of new import taxes.
@Damian Moylan: Or, just depend on Uk gas with all taxes as non Eu.
Could do with big Phil now
Go on Michaél you tell them, put the shivers on them
Micheal needs to wake up , he has been sleep walking for weeks. Spend most of his time sacking people
Does BoJo give a damn? Isn’t he there just to satisfy himself?
That elbow thing really gets on my wick!!! Just look at them…eejits!
What a pair of nutters
Your not michael collins Taoiseach trying to rattle Boris Johnson .
As far a british pm concern about what you think would you go way out of that he didnt hurry to ring Leo when Taoiseach so you think hes worried about us the irish people
I am sure Borris is really worried about that gobsh2te
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