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LAST UPDATE | 20 May 2022
MICHEÁL MARTIN HAS said there is “no substitute” for negotiations between the European Union and the UK Government to resolve issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.
An Taoiseach was speaking in Belfast following meetings with political and business leaders.
He said: “There is no substitute for a substantive series of negotiations between the European Union and the United Kingdom Government in respect of solving issues in relation to the protocol.
“We accept legitimate issues have been raised, but it is our view that they can be resolved.”
The DUP is currently blocking the re-establishment of Stormont’s power-sharing Executive in protest at the Northern Ireland Protocol and has also prevented the Assembly from sitting because it cannot elect a Speaker without DUP support.
Martin said he had an interesting meeting with the Brexit business working group where he heard of “the many beneficial impacts of the protocol on many sectors” of the Northern Irish economy.
“We believe there can be a resolution of issues around the protocol, but the only way to do that is through a negotiated settlement.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s northern leader Michelle O’Neill “very much welcomes” US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s intervention in a row over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Pelosi said the US Congress will not support a free trade agreement with the UK if the Government persists with “deeply concerning” plans to “unilaterally discard” the protocol, urging “constructive, collaborative and good faith negotiations” in order to uphold peace.
“They’ve [US Congress] made it very clear that there will be no trade deal with Britain if they undermine the Good Friday Agreement,” the Sinn Fein vice-president said as she visited Scotland’s First Minister in Edinburgh today.
“Those statements are very, very important because we have to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
“The protocol provides us some mitigation against the worst impact of Brexit – the hardest possible Brexit that’s been delivered by Boris Johnson in London and the DUP partners in Belfast.”
Speaking to reporters after he met with Martin, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said he held a “useful meeting” with An Taoiseach this afternoon and that his party is not interested in a “sticking plaster approach” to the Protocol standoff.
“We are not interested in a sticking plaster approach, or tinkering around the edges, it has to be fundamental change which respects Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market and nothing short of that will suffice,” he said.
We have had what I would describe as a useful meeting with the Taoiseach, we spelled it out very clearly to him the problems with the protocol, the harm it is doing to Northern Ireland and that we need a solution, we need decisive action to deal with these problems.
Both Sinn Féin and the UUP have said that Executive should be able to operate in parallel with talks between the UK and EU but Donaldson appeared cool on that suggestion today.
“My understanding is that the (UK) government will bring forward the legislation early in June. We will note what the legislation says and we will take decisions based on the progress that is made,” he said.
We were very clear we would not enter the institutions until the issues around the Protocol are dealt with, I never said that was limited to the executive. I want the institutions to operate as soon as possible but I am not going to telegram to the government what I am going to do until we see what this legislation says, that is fundamentally important.
In a statement last night, Donaldson had said that: “Dublin must belatedly recognise that if nothing is fixed then there will be no progress.”
Speaking on BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme today, Martin said that “in the democratic world” people should attend parliament.
“I think most people would agree that, in the democratic world, when people vote for the representatives and vote to elect to parliament, the first thing that should happen is that that Parliament should convene. It’s unheard of in the democratic world that the parliament would not convene in the aftermath of an election,” he said.
UUP
Following a meeting with An Taoiseach today, UUP leader Doug Beattie said they had had “a frank discussion” over the Protocol and the proposed “landing zone”.
It is expected that the UK is planning unilateral action to introduce separate “green” and “red” lanes for goods travelling between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The different lanes would draw a distinction between goods destined to stay within the UK and those heading to the Republic of Ireland and beyond.
Speaking today, Beattie said that there should be “no requirement” to check goods that come from Great Britain to Northern Ireland if they are staying in Northern Ireland.
He also suggested that while it could be a lengthy process to revive the Stormont Executive, the Assembly could restart in a limited way in a shorter period of time.
“I get a sense that this legislation, this unilateral action will probably be laid before Parliament in the first two weeks of June, and that may be enough for a (Stormont) speaker then to be nominated, and that allows us to do limited work… and what happens after that will depend on whether or not the DUP get the Executive up and running,” he said.
I welcome that An Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD is in Belfast today to engage the parties. I was glad to have met him earlier. The Irish Government has a critical stewardship role as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement & all GFA institutions must be up & going without delay.
— Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) May 20, 2022
Advances
During his appearance on the BBC, Martin said there had been “significant advances” from the European Commission on a range of issues in relation to the Protocol but he accused the British government of repeatedly “moving the goalposts”.
“Both governments must work hand in glove together with the parties in Northern Ireland,” he said.
I believe that the current UK government has moved too far in a unilateral way on a range of issues, be it legacy issues, be it the Protocol, and in my view that is not fully in accordance with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, which involves collaboration and working together.
Since the UK government announced that it is planning to introduce legislation to unilaterally change parts of the Protocol agreed between the EU and UK, concerns have been raised by both Irish, European and US politicians.
Earlier today, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney met with Truss in Turin where he detailed “Ireland’s opposition to the U.K. breaching international law” with their plan to unilaterally alter the Protocol.
Coveney called for the UK to go back into talks with the EU and to avoid taking unilateral action and “damaging international relations”
I met @trussliz in Turin. I made clear Ireland’s opposition to the U.K. breaching international law.
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) May 20, 2022
The UK needs to get back to talks with the EU. pic.twitter.com/ZQwLAtz8Dv
Irish officials have said that they do not expect an instant reaction from the European Commission if unilateral action is taken and have instead pushed for talks between the EU and UK to continue.
- With reporting by PA
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You don’t need to go abroad anymore, Abroad came here instead.
@087 bed: Monkeypox.
@087 bed: the racist agenda didn’t wash over with the electorate, Patriot, the public rejected all 0.9% of you racists :)
@087 bed: indeed by that thing
@9QRixo8H: well if it isn’t Mr. 0.9% racists, read another paper and educate yourself :)
@Solar Luna: hopfully she will be gone in the next change of government
@087 bed: I don’t believe in open borders. But the s#&te you spout on a daily basis is comical. I doubt you are even Irish to be honest. More of a clown from a far away circus spewing s#&te
@087 bed: I laughed a bit harder than I should have…
@9QRixo8H: 25% of people voted for Independents and non-aligned candidates. The number 1 cited reason for doing so was immigration and bogus asylum seekers clampdown
@087 bed: great country may aswel Irish can head for Australia or USA only one problem you NEED a passport,visa and job lined up,opposite here tho great crack.
The government has done that already love
@reg morrisey: wrong
@Pat Hazzard: Right!
@Pat Hazzard: WOW Pat, what planet are you on?!?! I see health crisis, housing crisis, homeless crisis, spending up 30%+ since 2019 while still squeezing their citizens dry during a cost of living crisis. Is see Dublin being the most unsafe it’s been in a long time all under “the party of law and order”. Antisocial behaviour off the charts. Most of the public services run into the ground because of DPER and management still have their austerity hats on. Skilled labour from abroad cant come to help because it’s so unaffordable thanks to FGs inaction on housing since 2011. Herself should keep her head down, do her job and forget about the Varadkar like soundbites!!!
Needing an entire squadron of Gardai with attack dogs beside you to claim Dublin streets are safe is perfectly fine aparently though.
@Dan The Man: Nothing like a big angry looking dog for someone that’s scared stiff lol.
Havnt seen Helen in months. They must think it’s safe to roll her back onto stage again.
Oh how I laughed….. I think the headlining across the world of people sleeping in tents on the street, tourists with head injuries following violent assaults and our own domestic situation will prob put them off more than Aerlingus but 10/10 for deflection Minister McEntee.
Maybe Helen should concentrate more on her own brief instead talking about something that is out of her level
@Paul Maguire: in fairness she is out of her level in her own department.
Disagree it might damage Are Lingus’s reputation but hardly Ireland’s.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: tourists and business leaders forced to change flights won’t be too pleased and that will damage Ireland’s reputation
@Pat Hazzard: Better off flying Ryanair anyways. Less chance of luggage being lost and your flight being delayed.
@Pat Hazzard: you think its OK to treat the pilots the way they want
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): They only fly to Europe.
Would you ever cop on its an industrial dispute
Fianna fail have done irreparable Damage to Ireland
Re ,bank accounts ect
Aer Lingus is British owned now. Has no bearing on Ireland’s reputation.
@Fergus O’Connor: yeah I’m sure the common person will ignore the gaelic name and big green planes with shamrocks on them. All quintessentially British things
@Fergus O’Connor: Factually incorrect
@Fergus O’Connor: yep we were
Sold down the river like everything else! Joke this country
Has she looked in the mirror lately….this is the minister that said Dublin was safe as she was surronded by Gardai. But this strike is bad
@Tom Newell: It is not a strike, they have served strike notice and are on a work to rule. Big difference.
We have the highest income tax rate. If they reduced this, employees would not need to go on strike.
@Fintan Stack: source for this claim? Highest in the world? In EU? What are you even claiming?
@Soundy Sound: check your payslip. If you work that is.
@Fintan Stack: so, you don’t have any source for your wild claim. You just made it up.
@Soundy Sound: haha, fintan’s like, “look at that tax I am paying!” and his small mind jumps to the conclusion it’s the highest in the world like!
@Fintan Stack: No we haven’t we are on par with most countries and our effective tax rate is pretty good by international standards.
@Fintan Stack: No, we don’t. Some actual, up-to-date figures on the top rates are below. Maybe go get a job and actually pay some taxes instead of typing notions from your rectal cavity.
@Ciaran Foster: i doubt he pays tax.
Income tax rates per country in EU starting with the highest.
1. Denmark (DK) 55.9%
2. France (FR) 55.4%
3. Austria (AT) 55.0%
4. Spain (ES) 54.0%
5. Belgium (BE) 53.5%
6. Portugal (PT) 53.0%
7. Sweden (SE) 52.3%
8. Finland (FI) 51.4%
9. Slovenia (SI) 50.0%
10. Netherlands (NL) 49.5%
11. Ireland (IE) 48.0%
12. Germany (DE) 47.5%
13. Italy (IT) 47.3%
14. Iceland (IS) 46.3%
15. Luxembourg (LU) 45.8%
16. United Kingdom (GB) 45.0%
17. Greece (GR) 44.0%
18. Turkey (TR) 40.8%
19. Norway (NO) 39.6%
20. Switzerland (CH) 39.5%
21. Poland (PL) 36.0%
22. Croatia (HR) 35.4%
23. Cyprus (CY) 35.0%
24. Malta (MT) 35.0%
25. Lithuania (LT) 32.0%
26. Latvia (LV) 31.0%
27. Slovakia (SK) 25.0%
28. Czech Republic (CZ) 23.0%
29. Estonia (EE) 20.0%
30. Georgia (GE) 20.0%
31. Ukraine (UA) 19.5%
32. Hungary (HU) 15.0%
33. Moldova (MD) 12.0%
34. Bulgaria (BG) 10.0%
35. Romania (RO) 10.0%
@Mike Carson: out of interest, where did you get those rates Mike? 48% for Ireland seems high to me – the marginal rate, including paye, usc and prsi is 52%. But obvs you don’t pay that rate on all income, far from it. And it also excludes the effect of tax credits
@SYaxJ2Ts: I agree with you but what is GB doing in a list of EU countries?
@Rory Jennequin: good spot
@Rory Jennequin: It’s got Norway, Iceland, Moldova and Ukraine too
@Richard Keogh: yea looks like European rather than EU
@Ciaran Foster: where did I say it was the highest in the world? Sometimes it’s not too clever to make wild assumptions.
@Mike Carson: so you’re happy with the rate of tax you pay, and while continuing to pay austerity taxes 15 years later?? Which seems unlikely that you pay tax at all. So you keep your head buried in your own backside while I pay for your social welfare and trips to Santa ponza.
@SYaxJ2Ts: he got them out of his hoop.
Reputation?..pretending “Dublin is safe”comment from the minister of justice…lol
What has she to do with Aer Lingus it’s nothing to do with her the best thing for her to do is to go
Ex Irish company
Why was the convict in the below article not deported, they lost their work visa and then worked illegally, never mind the actual charge they were convicted of?
Ireland’s reputation is being damaged by your continued role as minister of justice but enhanced among every scammer (bogus asylum seeker) who lives like a parasite among us. All courtesy of the taxpaying workers in this state.
@Gerry Lamont: absolutely agree with you.
@Gerry Lamont: no such thing, may not be granted asylum; same as innocent until proved guilty.
And what is she going to do about it? Zilch. The most incompetent justice minister in a generation.
These politicians are utter despicable.
British / Spanish owned. FFG/Labour do what FFG/Labour do. They privatised a profitable company where staff had made huge sacrifices.
For 30 pieces of silver. Shameful.
So not ours or Simons issue anymore.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: ***So not yours or Simon’s issue anymore
@Fr. Fintan Stack: So where is Simon?? Gone very shhhhh these days!!
Come fly with me, come fly with me, fly away… O sorry you can’t now because the government made a balls of things and blames price inflation on Ukraine instead…
@Solar Luna: they are delighted with the rapid jump in inflation as tax take has ballooned as a result. But the poor taxpayer is crippled with exorbitant costs of living, highest tax rates, multiple legacy austerity taxes and more hidden taxes.
@Fintan Stack: Include Inheritance Tax in that
Talbot Street is damaging Ireland’s reputation but Helen thinks its fine
Is she living under a rock it’s already in the toilet mother of God
Who cares what she thinks,aer lingus need to settle this dispute,its on them if they dont.
She should stick to cleaning up her own brief. Illegals running a muck, and leave transport to cabbage head
It’s a pity you weren’t that concerned about Aer Lingus before your Gov sold it off there, Helen.
The one that’s TALKING ffs
I’d say that crime, lack of housing, tent cities, and uncontrolled immigration are doing more damage to our reputation than a few pilots exercising their legal right to strike. How about you do your job for a change Helen?
The fcukin irony of her saying that the amount of tourists I speak to every week who’s comment on the state of Dublin and the imported beggars etc etc #embarrassing
Coming from her that’s rich .
What reputation?
McEntee as Government Minister will do more damage to Ireland’s reputation than anything the pilots could do by fighting for wage restoration. Insufferable politician is Helen.
If she got up off her hole and improved our border and immigration controls rather than signing it away that would be more uaeful
“Cleary’s”, “Debenham’s”, “Iceland Foods”.
What’s she on about now?
Having the likes of her in power is what damages Ireland’s reputation
She has a point. Have never heard of a strike in another country to be fair ;^|
@Temp Stuff: this is the so called woman in power staying Dublin is safe like Ireland she couldn’t run a sweet shop
@Temp Stuff: the Irish unions are taking a leaf out of the French ones: transport workers calling a strike as holidays loom.
Maybe Mary Lou should have made her speach in the British or Spainish parliament
The HQ for the IAG group in London with offices in Madrid – nothing whatsoever got to do with the Irish government, that’s what we have the Labour courts for.
Do not think a private dispute between a company that does not care about its clients and a bunch of overpaid underworked prima Donna’s could damage the image of Ireland.
The company is a UK company.
The only people that will suffer are travelling public and in the longer term the honest hardworking employees of the company.
As if TD’s don’t.
Oh no, I hope we don’t upset someone, somewhere
My original comment wont post think I’ll move to Nth.Korea
Has she not looked in the mirror lately!
I think we are already being laughed at leaders resigning right left and centre lol thank god for our tech overlords keeping the cash flowing to our highly taxed taxpayer!!!
And she hasn’t????
Wait until this passenger cap has an effect!
Damage Irelands reputation that’s well fecked no American tourists coming here because of migrants. Almost every hotel and town full of illegals ,any hotels available are way too expensive, this government think the world doesn’t see what’s going on in Ireland, did they ever hear of social media everyone see the videos all on tictok.x .Facebook ect
Of course it could, they are overpaid as it is
@John D Doe: I agree she is overpaid along with those gimps in the dail….put cuts are needed now
When are they going to get rid of that insufferable person. She Is determined to turn ireland into a third world dumping ground.
And yet in the local and European elections the bluffers and con merchants ffg did v well when push comes to shove there will be no change in the next election the status quo will remain
Dublin is a dangerous city now and if I were a tourist I would feel safer in Beruit than Dublin. But when you have gardai escourts when you walk around zombie land its easy Helen to belittle the locals with your stupid comments. Your a waster and a fraud. I hope the people that voted you in last time see sense and show you the door. It would be better to solve the crime situation in Ireland than comment about something you know even less of in the pilots strike.
Inept minister. Should try and manage her own portfolio. Dublin is safe she said, a useless minister. Mind your own business Helen and let Aer Fungus deal with their mismanagement of pilots.
perhaps the part time minister for justice should look in the mirror..
Helens destroyed the country more than 25 million pilots ever could
It’s like the dog calling the cat a hairy b@$tard
She must have holidays abroad soon.
We sold our national airline don’t u remember
The pilots are determined to hurt as many holiday-makers as they can to get more money.
It is really sad to see a trade union such as Forsa target thousands of ordinary Irish workers planning a holiday, for the benefit of a handful of millionaire pilots in Aer Lingus.
To thine self be true or something like that should be on her lips ffg has sold our grandchildren for Notting
The right to withdraw labour is a civil and human right. Anybody who tries to stop non essential services from going on strike is attacking those workers rights.
the French Air Traffic controllers go on strike regularly , not a word, Irish people go on a work to rule and she attacks them.
Says more abo9ut her than them!
3 men arrested for harassing the Taoiseach. 1 man in court for fire bombing a proposed asylum centre . Rashede Adeleke receives vile abuse for representing her country, while having the temerity to have black skin. Just a few recent examples of how low some of our fellow Irish men have sunk. Good luck to the pilots. The right to strike is paramount and keeps the bosses on their toes .
It could damage earn his reputation. well lady what are you doing about it?
@Fintan Stack: “Denmark is the European country with the highest top statutory income tax rate as of 2024, with the Nordic country having a top taxation band of 55.9 percent. Other countries with high taxes on top earners included France, with a top rate of 55.4 percent, Austria, with a top rate of 55 percent, and Spain, with a top rate of 54 percent. Many countries in Europe have relatively high top income tax rates when compared with other regions globally, as these countries have relatively generous social systems funded by tax incomes. This is particularly the case in Western, Northern, and Central Europe, where the social state is generally stronger.” From Statista.com
To the pilots on the forum and there be many, three questions already posed multiple times without reply. Let’s see if we can do better this morning.
Do you guys use the free parking at Dublin airport for personal trips, holidays abroad and the like?
If a pilot prefers to use public transport to travel to the airport can they allow a third party to avail of it?
Do any pilots earn a 2nd income in this way ?
have your say