‘Confidence has eroded’ over UK plan

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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that he is not optimistic about a Brexit deal in light of the UK introducing national legislation to void parts of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mr. Martin said that confidence has eroded and is likely to affect future negotiations.

“The stakes are higher now because of British action. The publication of the bill indicates an attempt by the UK government to essentially break its signed commitment into an international agreement and that is very serious,” he said.

“This is very worrying news for everyone and, in my opinion, it makes no sense and I have constantly told the British prime minister,” Martin said.

“I think the leadership of the European Union will be very concerned about how the negotiations go from here.”

Mr Martin said he made clear in a phone call last night with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson of his “open opposition” to the move.

He said he pointed out very strongly that he was “dragging Northern Ireland” back to center stage.

He said Johnson has a complete understanding of where he is coming from with his concerns.

He said Britain signed the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol in order to ensure that they wanted to access the European market.

“Trust has eroded, but it made it clear to me that the UK was fully committed to fulfilling its obligations to protect the single market and the smooth flow of north-south trade. The legislation goes against that.”

Mr Martin said that the UK-EU committee meeting to be held later today will discuss issues, adding that if the UK had problems it should have addressed them at this meeting.

He said that when you look at the clauses of the legislation published by the UK government, it essentially gives them “a chance to override the protocol” and that they can do “whatever they want when they want.”

He said that it is neither constructive nor conducive to negotiations and that they now have to prepare for the prospect of a no-deal.

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Hastily organized Brexit talks will take place today with an “extraordinary meeting” of the Joint Committee between the UK and the EU in London.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Michael Gove, will meet with senior EU official Maros Sefcovic to discuss the situation, as talks continue between the UK’s top Brexit negotiator Lord Frost and his Brussels counterpart. , Michel Barnier.

The meeting between Gove and Sefcovic comes as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, insisted that “there is absolutely no chance” that the US Congress will pass a trade deal with the UK if the Northern Ireland’s peace process was “in jeopardy”.

European Commission Chief Spokesman Eric Mamer tweeted last night: “Following today’s announcement from the UK, Maros Sefcovic will travel to London tomorrow to meet Michael Gove for an extraordinary Joint Committee meeting.

“The EU requests clarification from the UK on the full and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.”



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