Brexit: Taoiseach describes ‘dialing down’ of article 16 threats

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there has been an easing of tensions in recent days with regard to the Northern Ireland Protocol and there was a "dialing down" of threats to trigger Article 16.

Mr Martin said he spoken with all the political parties in Northern Ireland on Wednesday and they all wanted Northern Ireland to continue to have access to the Single Market.

The issue was about more than just the protocol, he told the Dermot & Dave show on Today FM , it was about the continuing relationship of the two governments.

The Taoiseach said that British prime minister Boris Johnson was easy to talk to and was very good at engaging with people. At the end of the day he was eager for a resolution, but his government was taking a circuitous route, Mr Martin said.

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London ‘pulling back’ on activating article 16 of NI protocol

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Britain stepped back from triggering article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol following warnings that the move could precipitate a trade war with the European Union. Article 16 allows either side to take unilateral action if they deem the agreement is having a strongly negative impact on their interests.

Brexit minister David Frost on Wednesday told the House of Lords that article 16 would be Britain's only option if talks with the EU failed but he promised to continue to negotiate for a number of weeks.

“Although we have been talking for nearly four weeks, there remain possibilities that the talks have not yet seriously examined, including many approaches suggested by the UK. So there is more to do and I certainly will not give up on this process unless and until it is abundantly clear that nothing more can be done,” he said.

Lord Frost urged the EU to "stay calm and keep things in proportion" as ambassadors in Brussels on Wednesday considered how they should respond to a unilateral suspension of the protocol under article 16. Among the options that have been discussed in European capitals is the termination of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) agreed with Britain last year.

Government sources in Dublin said their assessment was that the British were “pulling back for now” on triggering article 16 but said they did not believe the move was off the agenda.

“Sometimes you think that they don’t know what they’re doing,” said one source. “But I think Boris wants to calm down for a bit.”

r Martin spoke by telephone to party leaders in Northern Ireland last night. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said he had urged the Taoiseach to use Dublin's influence in Brussels "to reach a sensible outcome which is sustainable and can command the support of unionists in Northern Ireland".