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LAST UPDATE | 17 May 2022
IF THE UK Government moves to unilaterally override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, the North could be in a “very dangerous place”, Michelle O’Neill has said.
The Sinn Féin Vice President told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that such a move by the UK, and any retaliation from the European Union, would result in Northern Ireland being “caught out in the middle of a game of chicken”.
The UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is today expected to declare her intention to bring forward legislation which rips up parts of the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal on Northern Ireland.
It is understood that Truss will make the announcement in a statement to the Commons following a full Cabinet meeting, in an attempt to restore power-sharing in the region.
The row over the protocol has created an impasse in efforts to form a new executive in Stormont, with the Democratic Unionist Party refusing to join a new administration unless its concerns over the arrangements are addressed.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Belfast yesterday to meet leaders of the Stormont parties in an attempt to secure progress – but he also used the trip to issue a warning to Brussels that the UK is prepared to rewrite unilaterally the terms of the Brexit deal he signed.
O’Neill today described the meeting with Johnson as “a very robust exchange of views”.
“I’m very firmly of the view – we’re very firmly of the view – that Boris Johnson is pandering to the DUP. He is assisting them in their nonsense in terms of trying to prevent an Executive being formed, a Government that will actually deliver to the public in the aftermath of an election,” she said.
O’Neill said if the UK attempts to unilaterally override parts of the protocol, there will be “further political instability and further economic uncertainty” in Northern Ireland.
She said that such a scenario could see the North “caught in the middle” and being used as “a pawn” in a row between the Conservative Party and the EU.
A majority of MLAs in Stormont’s newly elected Assembly represent parties that support retaining the protocol, with many arguing that the arrangement offers the region protection from some of the negative economic consequences of Brexit.
The threat of unilateral action has already gone down badly in European capitals, with EU leaders urging the UK Government to fully participate in talks.
European Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness today said “there won’t be a knee-jerk reaction” from the EU.
Speaking on Morning Ireland, McGuinness said: “I think in all of this process, which has been lengthy and where there has been some testing of patience, we’ve held our patience because we see the need for both action and compromise … Despite provocations, we have to maintain that level of engagement.”
She continued: “We’re all a little bit confused as to what to expect because there have been many twists and turns in the last week as to what might happen around the protocol. We’ve had some very extreme language, we’ve had some
pullback.”
McGuinness said the build-up to Truss’ statement “has not been pleasant at all” but “there is political will here in the European Union and the Commission to resolve the outstanding issues around the implementation of the protocol”.
“We can’t do that sitting at the table on our own. And indeed, the British Government can’t do it on its own in the House of Commons. We have to do it together.”
McGuinness added that the “vast majority” of elected members of the new Assembly in Northern Ireland “don’t want unilateral action, they don’t want to see further destabilisation”.
‘Not about picking a fight’
A Foreign Office source said “this isn’t about picking a fight with the EU”, saying that Truss’ priority is to uphold the Good Friday Agreement.
“The peace process and acting in the interests of Northern Ireland is what motivates her,” they said.
The PA news agency understands Truss’ ambition is to lay the legislation in Parliament within a couple of weeks, and certainly before the summer. But the overwhelming preference is thought to remain a negotiated solution.
The Global Britain (Strategy) Committee, which considers matters relating to the UK’s trade priorities, will meet first on Tuesday, followed by the full Cabinet, before Truss delivers her statement to the Commons.
Yesterday evening, the UK Foreign Secretary held calls with Foreign Minister Simon Coveney and European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic.
In both, Truss said she underlined the importance of upholding the Good Friday Agreement and re-establishing the Northern Ireland Executive.
Sefcovic later said engaging with “flexibilities” offered by the EU would be preferable to taking unilateral action on the protocol.
He tweeted: “With political will, practical issues arising from the implementation of the protocol in Northern Ireland can be resolved.
“Engaging with us on the flexibilities we offer would be a better course of action than unilateral one. We’re ready to play our part, as from the outset.”
Taoiseach Micheál Martin yesterday said that the only way to resolve the row was “substantive talks” between the UK and the EU.
With reporting by Órla Ryan
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Gotta keep the Taxes rolling in to pay for all the insanity that’s going on in this country.
428 on accommodation bills in the first 3 months of the year.
Word is out in Jordan as well that Ireland is an easy touch,hence the skyrocketing numbers arriving from there. There will be no end to this until this Government grow a pair and start getting tough. And I can’t see that happening any time soon.
They represent the majority of voters, 52% to be exact. They don’t represent the 0.9%. Not happy then leave!!!
@Gerard Carey: there’s such a thing as international law, responsibilities and UN charters that oblige us to care for everyone who lands in these shores. Most of whom are a lot worse off than you.
@Alan B: it’s okay with the 99.1% of us, yes, as we are not racist.
@9QRixo8H: Buttercut making up scutter again.
@9QRixo8H: making up nonsense again.
@9QRixo8H: No it’s not okay with most of us, where in god’s name did you come up with a figure of 99.1%?
@The Firestarter: Results of the very recent local elections. All the far-right parties COMBINED couldn’t even get to 1% in votes.
@9QRixo8H: Again, you show your misunderstanding of this statistic. People voted for local elections to local councillor, usually the same people who are active in the community.
Local elections doesn’t reflect the “people” otherwise SF would have had better numbers. 100% sure it will be way higher than that. Also the majority of people in Ireland do NOT want illegals flooding the country. Maybe you like high crime and uneducated people but most don’t.
@9QRixo8H: Not wanting illegals isn’t being far right, it’s being realistic. I don’t vote far right but still don’t want them. Your usual rambling makes no sense.
@Gerard Carey: Word is out in Jordan? Any evidence to support this?
@Alan B: Countries with 100’s of millions of people see Ireland as an easy touch? Any evidence to support this claim?
@Alex: That’s some mental gymnastics!!! If people didn’t want a certain skin type coming into their LOCAL communities, then the far right would have gotten more than 0.9% in the LOCAL elections. Fact is, you can’t speak for a “majority” if you couldn’t even get one percent of votes!!!! 0.9% is not a majority!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@9QRixo8H: Are you counting the dozens of anti immigration independents who got elected all over the country, the actual right wing parties and also independent Ireland and even aontu would have right leaning policies on immigration. I’m sure it comes to much more than 1%
@9QRixo8H: Jesus ! Is he not allowed voice him opinion?
@The Firestarter: no it’s not ok. I’ve never voted far right nor would I. But I’m not happy with all this immigration as we don’t have enoughht services.
@ruairi Colton: Is someone upset that their klan got 0.9%? Those others are multi-issue parties, people vote for them for a myriad of issues.
@kevin rock: no because you don’t get to say “that person cannot buy a house in this community because of their skin colour or where their from or their nationality”
@SYaxJ2Ts: Try and keep up.
@Gerard Carey: Bet you don’t ask for a native doctor do ya
@Gerard Carey: As I thought, no evidence at all, just relying on bias and prejudice
@David Galvin: May God help us,with your attitude. I see you are easily taken in?
@9QRixo8H: Do your parents know your commenting wee fella?
@Alex: how many city centre j.nkies are asylum seekers?
@SYaxJ2Ts: if you care to educate yourself with the latest arrival figures you will have the answer to your question.
It’s not that hard Kevin.
@Alan B: is 100s of millions not billions, just saying.
@Alan: If the state didn’t spend billions into useless “asylum” seekers, they would certainly provide adequate facilities to treat addiction.
Your fallacy is pathetic.
@9QRixo8H: You are doing some mental gymnastics not me. You are assuming that people who do not want illegals are far right when they aren’t.
You are clearly not educated enough to understand the basis in politics.
@9QRixo8H: and again, it has nothing to do with skin colours but how people end up here. Boat people, even if a majority come from Middle East and Africa aren’t exclusively brown or black. Another uneducated comment.
@9QRixo8H: The problem with boat people is that they provide nothing useful to our society. The majority of them have no education and will be a burden to everyone. Educated people who benefit this country arrive here legally to work. I have plenty of Indian neighbours who are productive and not illegals leeches and I am happy. Doctors, nurses, IT specialists… boat people are useless at best, they don’t speak English for many of them, they have no useful skills and will just wait for an accommodation and money.
@Gerard Carey: Pathetic. An increase in asylum seeker numbers from Jordan doesn’t mean that “the word is out”, rather it reflects the refugee crisis from the war in Gaza. So, as I said, bias and prejudice, with a condescending attitude on top. You need to educate yourself
@SYaxJ2Ts: Tents all over the place isn’t evidence enough for you, ffs what is wrong with people the country is on her knees, we can’t look after the people here,hse is in bits, housing etc etc and etc, but yes of course let’s keep the door open and let everyone in because we’re not racist, that’s your answer? What has the colour of skin got to do with doing what is right for the country?
@Alex: so this city centre phenomenon has only just occurred after a rise in asylum seekers lol do you actually live in Ireland (serious question)?
@Gerard Carey: how dare you that’s racist! No matter whether you’re facts and figures are 100% right you’re not allowed free speech unless you’re not irish anyway. Roderic has just informed us coolock and tipperary sites will proceed now regardless which is like a f u to the people who protested which is similar to a dictatorship. And before some clown says that’s nonsense if months of protests are ignored and you more or less spit on people walk over them and proceed with you’re plans without listening to theyre concerns that’s what it is. People have a right to at least talk and consult with those who plant large numbers in there areas with no background checks done basic common sense but not to those in power once they don’t live near it that’s all that matters.
@SYaxJ2Ts: it’s you who needs to educate yourself
@Alex: I’m sure he’ll change his tune when they’re tent is outside his garden. Garbage and excretment on the grass and pavement with no access to facilities. A kind of normal thinking for roderic o gorman and the likes let the bath fill and when it overflows ask why? Instead of thinking first and seeing is the facilities and amenities necessary there? No plant them in coolook and tipperary and sod the locals and if crimes start keep it quiet then say lessons learned when something serious happens.
@9QRixo8H: No its not ok. The vast majority are against it but afraid to speak out for fear snowflakes like you will call them racist.
@9QRixo8H: you’re a bit of a flake
@Alex: governments hav never shown any interest in helping people with an addiction. This problem has been around much longer the asylum seekers.
@Alex: bigot.
Intervention if we go back to 2022 prices.? The price now is horrendous. No need to wait. The general public are on their knees.
Just add to that the hikes in electricity from October …
Did he not come out as a woke person recently?
@9QRixo8H: I’m a woke person, I woke up this morning, give me the money please.
@9QRixo8H: no
He came out as a homosexual gentleman, which is a completely different thing.
@donal O’brien: are you sure about the gentlemen bit?
I would like to ask him how much he spends (out of his own pocket|) on fuel going to and from work.
@George Vladisavljevic: that TD expense culture needs to go. They are paid more than enough already. I don’t see the opposition parties bring that up either.
Petrol was only meant to rise by 4cent but it went up by 7cent
“volatility in the global oil market” lmao
He will do as they have done all along & geneflect the knee when Eamon Ryan tells them to do so. The Greens dictating & destroying the country & Fianna Fail & Fine Gael enabling them just to stay in power. Micheal Martin & Leo Varadkar were brown noding Ryan fo years now just to stay in power.
Good for you, Chambers, GFY.
Puts on 500 euro suit, clock.in…do a few hours 500 quid in pocket. Chauffeured driven home. Done. Ah the life.
He’s like the head prefect.
have your say