Irish PM-Cannot Say If NI Protocol Deal Possible By Apr Deadline

Wires carrying comments from Ireland's Taoiseach (PM) Leo Varadkar stating that it is "not yet possible to say whether a resolution is possible on the Northern Ireland protocol deal by St. Patrick's Day (17 Mar) or Good Friday (7 Apr)". Varadkar's comments come after a period of apparently improving relations between the UK and EU, which have facilitated talks on the controversial protocol.

• Both sides, under pressure from the US, have sought to reach an agreement on reforms to the protocol that would be acceptable to the EU, UK gov't, Irish gov't, as well as unionists and nationalists in Northern Ireland by the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in April.
• Following a meeting between senior UK and EU officials in mid-Jan, and stories in the media that the UK could shelve the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol bill (which would allow the UK to unilaterally disapply the protocol, in what the EU says would be a breach of international law) there has been speculation that the talks could enter the final 'tunnel' stages soon. However, there has been no confirmation of this from either side.