Irish Fin Min-EU 'Very Anxious' To Secure NI Brexit Deal

Comments from Ireland's Finance Minister Michael McGrath hitting wires following a meeting with his UK counterpart Jeremy Hunt. McGrath states that he had a 'good exchange' with Hunt and that Brexit discussions have reach a 'new level'. Say that the EU is 'very anxious to secure a Brexit deal on Northern Ireland.'

• Speaking on a trip to the US on 25 Jan UK Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris warned against imposing deadlines on talks, saying they were "proven to be one sure-fire way" to result in a breakdown in talks.
• There is an unofficial deadline of early April to reach a deal on the Northern Ireland protocol, with that time marking the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement. While rhetoric around talks has been positive of late, there is still no sign that the more difficult issues relating to the role of the ECJ in Northern Ireland are near to being resolved.