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Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it would be a “hugely retrograde step” if the Northern Ireland protocol were undermined after briefly becoming “collateral damage” in a European dispute over the launch of Covid-19 vaccines.
He said the European Commission’s decision to signal that it was willing to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol was a mistake, but insisted that the measure had not caused lasting damage.
On Friday, Brussels announced plans to use a section of the protocol, which allows the UK or the EU to take special safeguard measures in exceptional circumstances, to avoid a “back door” in their plan to limit shipments of Covid-19 from AstraZeneca. vaccinate Great Britain. The pharmaceutical company is locked in a bitter dispute with Europe over a shortage of vaccine supplies.
Brussels subsequently reversed the measure following condemnation of London, Dublin and Belfast. However, the commission warned that if vaccines and active substances were to move to third countries and outside the bloc, it would use “all the instruments at its disposal.”
The commission is expected to release a new version of its vaccine export control regulations on Saturday.
Speaking from his home in Cork, Mr. Martin said he welcomed the response form from the European Commission. “They listened to what we had to say and they assessed the situation and deviated from what they had originally been proposing,” he said.
The Taoiseach said that he had several conversations with the chairwoman of the commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Friday evening and she took into account what he had said about the impact it would have on North-South relations and Anglo relations. Irish and responded quickly.
Mr Martin rejected the opinion of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, Arlene Foster, that the EU plan to activate Article 16 was an act of hostility towards Northern Ireland. He said it should be seen in the context of the “very bitter dispute” between the EU and the vaccine maker AstraZeneca.
Earlier, Ms Foster urged British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to replace Northern Ireland’s protocol to the Brexit deal following the dispute.
Ms Foster said the move was an “absolutely incredible act of hostility towards those of us in Northern Ireland”.
“It is absolutely disgraceful, and I have to say that the prime minister now needs to act very quickly to deal with the real trade flows that are being disrupted between Britain and Northern Ireland,” he told BBC Radio’s Today program on Saturday morning. Four.
The DUP leader reiterated calls for Johnson to enact article 16 of the protocol because of the delays faced by carriers.
“We have been asking the Prime Minister to deal with flow issues and indeed, since January 1, we have been trying to manage together with the government the many, many difficulties that have arisen between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. and there are actions I could take immediately, ”he said.
Prime Minister Arlene Foster: “There is great unrest and tension within the community here in Northern Ireland, so this protocol that was meant to bring peace and harmony in Northern Ireland is doing the opposite.” Photograph: Cate McCurry / PA Wire
“There is great unrest and great tension within the community here in Northern Ireland, so this protocol, which was meant to bring peace and harmony in Northern Ireland, is doing the opposite.
“The protocol is not viable, let’s be very clear about it and we need to see it replaced because otherwise there will be real difficulties here in Northern Ireland.”
Pressed on whether that would violate an international treaty, she said: “Well, it didn’t seem to upset the European Union yesterday when they violated the treaty in terms of their embarrassment over buying vaccines.”
‘Blindsided’
Mr. Martin said that while he could understand Ms. Foster’s frustration, the move “was in no way an act of hostility towards Northern Ireland, but it seems to me that people were surprised to focus exclusively on the dispute with AstraZeneca regarding negative implications for the performance of the protocol.
“From my perspective, the whole problem was the result of an increasingly tense and bitter dispute between AstraZeneca and the European Commission regarding the contracts that had been concluded for the supply of the vaccines.”
Mr Martin also rejected Ms Foster’s claim that the Northern Ireland protocol was unworkable and said that people should recognize the benefits it brings to businesses in the North before discussing its removal.
“It is important for businesses and jobs in Northern Ireland that they have access to the single market; it is of great benefit to Northern Ireland industry, to those involved in agricultural products and to a wide range of SMEs.
“In my opinion, it would be a hugely retrograde step for Northern Ireland if the protocol was undermined in any way and that is why we moved so quickly last night to make sure there was no damage.”
Mr. Martin said that he had also spoken with Mr. Johnson about the situation and they agreed on the importance of the Northern Ireland protocol in facilitating smooth economic activity on the island of Ireland.
The Vice Premier of the North, Michelle O’Neill, called for “a cool head.” The Vice President of Sinn Féin described the EU’s actions as “clearly reckless, misjudged and totally unnecessary” but said the protocol, “although imperfect”, must remain.
Northern Ireland Health Minister Robin Swann said he had spoken with UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock to seek reassurance on vaccine supplies. “Trust is essential and trust is rebuilt after yesterday’s actions by the EU,” he tweeted. “We need the assurance that essential vaccine supplies will always be able to travel freely to NI, both now and in the future.”
On Saturday night, the Foreign Minister tweeted that he had spoken with the EU-UK Joint Committee Co-Chair Maroš Šefcovic, the UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and the Secretary of State for Ireland North, Bradon Lewis. He said the four agreed to focus on “protecting the Ire / NI Protocol and ensuring the implementation works for everyone.”
Mr. Coveney said the protocol is there to protect “relationships, facilitate trade, avoid borders” and that they will continue to work on “outstanding issues.”
EU-UK relations
Mr Martin said he believed Ms Von der Leyen’s decision to reverse the proposal once the Irish government made its concerns known had ensured that relations between the EU and the UK were not damaged.
“The tone of my discussions with President von der Leyen was reasonable and constructive but also firm, pointing out the issues and implications, that the President took time to reflect and meet with her own advisers.
“We had a series of discussions and I think the president got it very quickly; this should not have happened very clearly, but the commission quickly realized the implications and reversed its decision.”
Mr Martin said that the Government had not received any prior warning from the European Commission of its intention to activate Article 16 and that would be something that would be part of future discussions with the commission. – Additional reports: PA
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