Irish PM: UK Actions On NI Protocol 'Frustrating' To EU & Member States

Speaking to Bloomberg TV Irish Taoiseach (PM) Micheal Martin stating that he believes 'the Northern Ireland protocol can be resolved'. However, adds that "renegotiation is not an option".

• Martin on UK efforts to alter NIP: “They signed up to an international agreement and then issue statements talking about unilaterally undermining the same agreement. That doesn't sit well."
• Martin: “The EU is very anxious to reach a conclusion, to negotiate through the Commission to reach a settlement on the legitimate issues that have been raised...”
• Martin: “We’re for the rule of law, we’re for multilateral agreements with good international engagement. Unfortunately, the move by the United Kingdom government flies in the face of that, and that more than anything was frustrating to EU member states."
• “There are mixed messages from the UK govt: on the one hand they’re saying, we’re anxious to get involved in negotiations but there’s a gun on the table, and on the other saying, if we don’t get the agreement we want we’re going to bring in legislation unilaterally anyway. That doesn’t create the right atmosphere for negotiations.”
• “That represented a very significant advance on the EU’s previous position. It wasn’t reciprocated by the UK government. But the UK gov't should come with detailed proposals particularly around the movement of goods from UK to NI that’s the biggest issue I found in Northern Ireland when I met with unionist parties and with other parties as well.”