# Protocol

Leo Varardkar says he has 'regrets' over NI Protocol as latest Stormont deadline passes

The Taoiseach said he understands why unionists feel that the protocol has “weakened the union”.

8.9k

Jan 20th 2023, 7:44 AM

# High hopes

‘Gaps remain’ with EU amid hopes of Northern Ireland Protocol breakthrough

A joint statement following talks between the EU and UK said that ‘scoping work for potential solutions should continue in a constructive and collaborative spirit’.

13.4k

Updated Jan 16th 2023, 2:30 PM

Tánaiste welcomes data-sharing progress amid Northern Ireland Protocol row

The EU and UK have reached agreement on data sharing and EU access to UK IT systems.

7.0k

Jan 9th 2023, 5:54 PM

Mistakes were made on all sides in handling of Brexit, Varadkar says

The Taoiseach said he will be as flexible and reasonable as possible when attempting to solve issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

19.3k

Updated Jan 3rd 2023, 3:25 PM

Last year

2022

# Stormont

DUP will not be ‘bullied or cajoled’ into restoring Stormont, Northern Ireland Secretary told

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said the UK Government should stop ‘expending energy’ targeting unionists.

21.1k

Dec 11th 2022, 12:23 PM

Legislation introduced to push back deadline to form a Stormont Executive

It will also allow for MLA salaries to be cut by around a third while the Assembly is unable to sit.

7.6k

Nov 21st 2022, 8:21 AM

Coveney says he will not stop visiting NI or be intimidated by loyalist threats

Coveney said those objecting to his presence north of the border were not reflective of the majority of people.

16.0k

Nov 2nd 2022, 5:52 PM

# DUP

Jeffrey Donaldson repeats claim heart surgeries were delayed by NI protocol

The Southern Health Trust said cardiac equipment parts could not be secured from the UK or Ireland in August

27.9k

Nov 1st 2022, 9:48 PM

Jeffrey Donaldson says Irish government 'deluded' to think joint-authority with London is possible

The DUP is set to block an attempt to elect a new Stormont speaker.

33.2k

Updated Oct 27th 2022, 1:00 PM

# new pm

Rishi Sunak vows to fix ‘mistakes’ of Liz Truss and warns of ‘economic crisis’

Congratulations have been offered by the Taoiseach who urged Sunak to work with the EU on Northern Ireland.

11.9k

Oct 25th 2022, 12:52 PM

NI Protocol talks between UK and EU ‘will continue’ if snap Stormont election called

A previous round of talks between the EU and the UK were paused ahead of the last Stormont Assembly election in May

5.2k

Oct 19th 2022, 7:09 PM

DUP leader says debris of protocol must be cleared for Stormont to return

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson will meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin later today.

16.1k

Oct 17th 2022, 6:47 AM

Tánaiste describes Northern Ireland Protocol as a ‘little too strict'

Leo Varadkar said that a window of opportunity now exists for agreement to be reached between the EU and the UK.

11.5k

Oct 6th 2022, 1:30 PM

UK risks angering EU further with response to post-Brexit legal threats over NI Protocol

The UK Government is understood to have told Brussels it will continue with the grace periods relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol.

11.4k

Sep 15th 2022, 2:07 PM

Liz Truss and Joe Biden discussed the Good Friday Agreement in their first call

Truss’ one-year tenure as UK foreign secretary saw post-Brexit tensions in Northern Ireland increase.

22.6k

Sep 6th 2022, 11:15 PM

# UK hustings

Tory leadership hopefuls Truss and Sunak take united stand on Protocol during Belfast trip

The Tory leadership contenders are to make their pitch to Conservative members in Belfast today.

41.3k

Updated Aug 17th 2022, 1:59 PM

# Legal Action

Coveney says UK Government have not engaged seriously with EU to resolve NI Protocol issues

The European Commission has triggered four new infringement proceedings against the UK Government today.

22.0k

Updated Jul 22nd 2022, 9:42 PM

Voices

Neale Richmond: Boris' Protocol Bill is an insult to everyone in Northern Ireland and the EU

The Fine Gael TD says the latest Tory moves in Westminster show a blatant disregard for the will of the people.

21.4k

Jun 29th 2022, 9:11 AM

# Brexit battle

'This is illegal': EU launches legal proceedings against UK much to 'disappointment' of Boris

Maros Sefcovic delivered an update to a press conference this morning.

70.0k

Updated Jun 15th 2022, 3:54 PM

Voices

What to expect next from this UK government? A lot of noise and not much competence

Expect Johnson to do what he’s always done – pick fights with the EU in a bid to keep power, former UK/EU negotiatior Sydney Nash writes.

18.3k

Jun 14th 2022, 11:50 AM

# The protocol

NI Protocol Bill: What is the British government proposing and how has the EU responded?

The Bill was published this evening.

27.9k

Jun 13th 2022, 7:10 PM

# all together now

Sinn Féin, SDLP and Alliance jointly write to Boris Johnson to condemn 'reckless' Protocol bill

The letter represents a majority of MLAs in Stormont but no unionists signed it.

11.5k

Jun 13th 2022, 4:03 PM

# UK Labour

On Dublin visit, Keir Starmer accuses Johnson of taking 'wrecking ball' to UK-Irish relations

Starmer’s visit comes as the UK Government revealed plans to introduce legislation that would override parts of the Brexit.

25.4k

Updated Jun 9th 2022, 5:18 PM

Northern Ireland business leaders tell US delegation compromise is needed over Protocol

The US Congressional group met business organisations as their last engagement on their trip to the island of Ireland.

9.1k

May 27th 2022, 1:31 PM

Jeffrey Donaldson accuses US Congressman visiting Dublin of 'slavish adherence to Sinn Féin dogma'

Richard Neal says it’s up to London to find a solution.

Donaldson made the comments after Congressman Richard Neal described the Protocol impasse as 'manufactured'.

Massachusetts Democrat Neal told reporters today it's 'up to London' to find a solution.

Neal is leading a nine-strong US delegation on a fact-finding mission to Europe.

38.4k

Updated May 24th 2022, 6:13 PM

Deep well of support for pragmatic solution on Northern Ireland Protocol, says Taoiseach

The Taoiseach made the remarks during a press conference with Dutch PM Mark Rutte

27.1k

Updated May 23rd 2022, 9:17 PM

# The Fix

Here's What Happened Today: Wednesday

Here’s your round-up of what made the headlines today.

10.0k

May 18th 2022, 9:14 PM

EU will 'respond with all measures at its disposal' if UK brings in law to change Protocol

Liz Truss addressed the House of Commons this afternoon.

Liz Truss addressed the Commons this afternoon.

"This is not about scrapping the Protocol," she told MPs.

Truss said she would prefer to do a deal with the EU instead of passing legislation.

48.4k

Updated May 17th 2022, 2:54 PM

O'Neill accuses Johnson of 'assisting DUP nonsense' amid UK plans to 'rip up' parts of Protocol

Liz Truss is expected to declare her intention to bring forward legislation which rips up parts of the UK’s post-Brexit trade deal.

29.4k

Updated May 17th 2022, 10:25 AM

Coveney says British 'sabre-rattling and grandstanding' over NI Protocol is not helpful

The Foreign Affairs Minister said Ireland is “frustrated” and “dealing with the consequences now of a decision by the British people on our own country”.

34.3k

Updated May 15th 2022, 11:45 AM

Johnson says protocol causing ‘real problems’ in Northern Ireland and must be ‘fixed’

Boris Johnson said the DUP would not join a powersharing agreement until changes have been made to the Brexit treaty.

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic earlier said the UK plans to scrap swathes of the Protocol are "unacceptable".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dismissed suggestions of any possible escalatory response from the EU as "crazy".

DUP MP Sammy Wilson said his party has adopted a wait-and-see approach over what the UK Government will do about the Protocol.

39.8k

Updated May 12th 2022, 6:23 PM

# Jim Allister

‘Long past the point’ for Westminster to take action on Protocol, TUV leader says

“It will take more than a story to solve the Protocol issue,” Jim Allister told an election rally.

14.8k

Apr 23rd 2022, 8:08 AM

Unionists must unite to oppose Northern Ireland Protocol, says Donaldson

The DUP leader was addressing a rally against the protocol in Castlederg.

21.3k

Apr 21st 2022, 9:45 PM

Martin: Growing view in Northern Ireland that Brexit protocol is working

The Taoiseach was speaking to reporters at the Embassy of Ireland in London.

18.2k

Mar 12th 2022, 4:48 PM

# Northern Ireland secretary

Jeffrey Donaldson says EU must drop pretence that 'protocol is protecting peace'

Donaldson said unionism is ‘rapidly losing faith’ that a negotiated solution can be found on the trading arrangements.

21.4k

Feb 17th 2022, 5:32 PM

Brandon Lewis: Unionists should clarify whether they would take up Deputy First Minister role

Lewis said that it was “disappointing and wrong” that Paul Givan had resigned as the North’s First Minister.

19.1k

Feb 11th 2022, 2:27 PM

# Injunction

Belfast judge suspends DUP decision to halt checks at Northern Ireland ports

The decision has been suspended until a judicial review against Edwin Poots’ order can be heard in full.

22.3k

Feb 4th 2022, 12:07 PM

# The Protocol Row

Explainer: What has led Edwin Poots to halt Brexit agri-checks at Northern Ireland ports?

Poots claims he no longer has the legal authority to continue the Protocol checks – but local politics is also at play.

20.7k

Feb 2nd 2022, 10:30 PM

# The Protocol Row

Protocol dispute: NI minister Edwin Poots orders Irish Sea border agri-checks to end at midnight

Edwin Poots said he has received legal advice that he can order checks to be stopped in absence of the Executive’s support.

Edwin Poots has argued that he has received legal advice in favour of him suspending checks unilaterally.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has said the move, if carried out, would be a “breach of international law”.

It is yet unclear whether the senior civil servant in Poots' department can legally comply with the order.

73.9k

Updated Feb 2nd 2022, 6:40 PM