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Micheál Martin, the taoiseach (Irish PM), has said that if Britain decides to unilaterally abandon the Northern Ireland protocol, that will mark a “historic low point”.
The UK government is expected to publish the bill fleshing out its plans to give ministers the power to disregard parts of the NI protocol shortly, and in an address to the European parliament Martin said that instead London should be working with Brussels to find an alternative approach. He said:
I have said many times that there are solutions to practical problems under the protocol if there is a political will to find them. But that requires partnership. It requires the UK government to engage with good faith, seriousness, and commitment.
Unilateral action to set aside a solemn agreement would be deeply damaging.
