IRELAND-PM Johnson To Meet Counterpart Martin Early Next Week: Politics Home

Politics Home has confirmed that Irish Taoiseach (PM) Micheal Martin will travel to the UK 'early next week' to meet with Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss the Northern Ireland protocol of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, as well as the UK gov'ts plans to block the prosecution of soldiers and paramilitaries who are accused of committing crimes during The Troubles.

• The UK gov'ts plans would essentially amount to an amnesty for British soldiers as well as republican or loyalist paramilitaries for crimes committed during the decades-long sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. The plans have been roundly rebuked by nationalist and unionist politicians in Northern Ireland, figures within the Irish gov't, and the main UK opposition Labour Party for denying justice to the families of those killed or injured in the conflict that claimed over 3,500 lives.
• For its part, the UK gov't has claimed that the amnesty will allow communities on both sides to 'draw a line under the conflict'.
• The two leaders will also discuss the NI protocol. Businesses in Northern Ireland remain in the dark over the operating environment from 1 October onwards, when the grace period on customs checks on the import of chilled meats from GB to NI expires.