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Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said that the Irish government will not give in to any violation of international law by the UK.
It comes after the British government confirmed that it is willing to break parts of the withdrawal agreement related to Northern Ireland.
Minister Coveney says it would seriously damage the UK’s international reputation.
He says that the withdrawal agreement must be honored:
“Let me be very clear, the protocol agreed upon as part of the withdrawal agreement is designed and authorized to operate in all circumstances.
Even in the absence of an agreement on the future relationship of the EU and the UK.
The protocol represents a fair and balanced outcome for all parties involved.
Earlier today, a British cabinet minister said he expects the UK to “violate international law” with its proposals to change the way a key deal with the EU works.
Internal market bill
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told MPs it would be in a “very specific and limited way”, adding that there are “clear precedents” for the UK and other countries which must consider their international obligations as they circumstances change.
His Labor counterpart Louise Haigh described the admission as “absolutely staggering” and warned that it would “seriously undermine” the UK’s authority on the international stage.
The British government will present the Internal Market Bill on Wednesday, which aims to ensure that Northern products continue to have unrestricted access to the UK market, while making clear EU state aid rules, which they will continue to apply in Northern Ireland, they will not apply in the rest of the UK.
Concerns have been raised that key parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, which sealed the UK’s exit from the EU in January, will be overridden by legislation.
Lewis told MPs that the government is “fully committed” to the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland protocol.
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