Brexit

Pat O’Connell meets Queen Elizabeth at his fish counter in the English Market in 2011: “There comes a time when you have to say ‘It’s time to move on’.” The Cork fishmonger who met the queen: ‘I think there was a sense we crossed a bridge’

Pat O’Connell believes PM is ‘mini-Trump’ who has created huge difficulties for Britain

Queen Elizabeth at the Garden of Remembrance on May 17th, 2011: Complacency set in after her visit as David Cameron’s government took a “semi-detached” attitude to Northern Ireland. Photograph: Arthur Edwards A decade after queen’s visit, where are Anglo-Irish relations heading?
Taoiseach Micheál Martin greets British prime minister Boris Johnson at Hillsborough Castle, Belfast last August. Photograph: Brian Lawless/AFP via Getty Images Martin and Johnson to meet tomorrow amid NI protocol tensions

David Frost. Photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP via Getty NI protocol ‘not sustainable for long’, says UK cabinet minister
How much can Boris Johnson’s government be trusted to act with rigorous impartiality and to refrain from external impediment? Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA Trust between Ireland and UK is in short supply
The British patrol ships are of a type that is generally armed with 20mm and 30mm guns and can carry 45 crew with as many as 50 Royal Marines, according to the ministry of defence website. File photograph: Getty Images French fishing boats return to Normandy as Jersey protest ends
A French fishing boat takes part in a protest in front of the port of Saint Helier off the British island of Jersey on Thursday. Photograph: Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP via Getty Images Explainer: What’s behind the UK’s fishing dispute with France?
Michel Barnier describes former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as “courageous”, while Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is “always shrewd, methodical and well-informed”. Photograph: John Thys/AFP via Getty Images Michel Barnier details bewilderment with British approach to Brexit talks
Michel Barnier: “Controls to protect the internal market must be implemented somewhere. Either around the island or inside the island,” he writes of his talks with Leo Varadkar in his new diary, The Grand Illusion, which will be published in French on Thursday. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/POOL/AFP via Getty Images ‘Slightest spark’ could risk peace in NI, Michel Barnier warns in new book
Loyalists protesting against the Northern Ireland Protocol outside Belfast City Hall last weekend. Photograph: Alan Lewis/Photopress EU and UK to ease protocol rules on guide dogs, plant declarations, animal tags
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the vote, but warned that ‘faithful implementation is essential’. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Bloomberg European Parliament ratifies Brexit deal as concerns over UK ‘good faith’ remain
Boris Johnson: “Now is the time to look forward to the future and to building a more global Britain.” Photograph: PA Wire Concerns over UK ‘good faith’ as European Parliament ratifies Brexit deal

Brexit has triggered a major decline in food trade between Ireland and the UK, according to a report from the Central Statistics Office. Brexit sees big decline in food trade between Ireland and UK
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen speaks during the debate on EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement during the second day of a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA 3:33 Von der Leyen warns UK Brexit deal has ‘real teeth’ if terms breached
Boris Johnson is not some dude with a big bong writing awful poetry at three a.m. It is, to use the word Johnson has so much trouble with, “actually” the voice of the sovereign government of Northern Ireland. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images 6:34 Fintan O’Toole: Boris Johnson’s gibberish may be surreal but it's also dangerous
Fires burn in Carrickfergus after a night of disturbances across Northern Ireland. File Photograph: Pacemaker Johnson warned ‘action is needed now’ on Northern Ireland
London’s financial district: UK stockbroker Numis was left in limbo by not having set up a hub in the EU before Brexit transition arrangements ended in December. 2:29 Numis Securities ponders Irish post-Brexit trading hub
Bluster disguising ruthlessness has often been the winning combination of Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/AFP via Getty Desire for US trade deal only way to make sense of Johnson’s stance on protocol
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European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the vote, but warned that ‘faithful implementation is essential’. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Bloomberg European Parliament ratifies Brexit deal as concerns over UK ‘good faith’ remain
Boris Johnson: “Now is the time to look forward to the future and to building a more global Britain.” Photograph: PA Wire Concerns over UK ‘good faith’ as European Parliament ratifies Brexit deal
Brexit has triggered a major decline in food trade between Ireland and the UK, according to a report from the Central Statistics Office. Brexit sees big decline in food trade between Ireland and UK
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen speaks during the debate on EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement during the second day of a plenary session at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA 3:33 Von der Leyen warns UK Brexit deal has ‘real teeth’ if terms breached
Fires burn in Carrickfergus after a night of disturbances across Northern Ireland. File Photograph: Pacemaker Johnson warned ‘action is needed now’ on Northern Ireland
London’s financial district: UK stockbroker Numis was left in limbo by not having set up a hub in the EU before Brexit transition arrangements ended in December. 2:29 Numis Securities ponders Irish post-Brexit trading hub
Shanker Singham told members of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster that measures he previously championed with regard to the possible introduction of a land border on the island of Ireland cannot not be applied with regard to the Protocol. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times MPs told trade proposals to deal with land border cannot be applied in case of Protocol
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster described as ‘misplaced’ and “’quite mischievous’ claims of an unspoken campaign to scupper North/South Ministerial Council meetings by not putting forward unionist Ministers. File photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire Foster denies unionists boycotting meetings with Republic’s Ministers
Micheál Martin: ‘Important to say that very serious harm can come if we keep seeing people trying to use Brexit as an issue to create points of dispute’ Taoiseach warns of ‘serious harm’ if every Brexit issue is ‘win-lose fight’
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA EU seeks business input over problems with Northern Ireland protocol
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was in London holding meetings with key political figures. 2:19 Republic, UK and EU agree to tackle Northern Ireland unrest
John Larkin is the former attorney general of Northern Ireland. File photograph: New Ray Pics Unionist legal challenge to Northern Ireland protocol to be heard in May
Helen Kelly: appointed by Barclays as head of its corporate banking unit in Europe. 2:10 Irishwoman gets key position with Barclays corporate banking unit
The O’Connell plinth at City Hall Dublin, vacant since the statue of The Liberator was moved inside 150 years ago. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill 3:55 Brexit glue tariffs delay production of Dublin sculpture for outside City Hall
Products from Rococo Chocolates in London last week. Exports of chocolate to Europe have turned into a nightmare of paperwork and delays, making fine British chocolate scarce in Europe. Photograph: Tom Jamieson/The New York Times ‘We’ve lost our entire European trade’: Brexit’s impact on UK chocolate makers
Since 2016, more than 4,500 qualified solicitors from England and Wales have added their names to the Irish Roll of Solicitors. Photograph: iStock Irish solicitors will be able to work in England, Wales
The European Arrest Warrant was introduced in 2004 and obliges member states to arrest and transfer suspects to countries where they were wanted. Ten EU states to halt extraditions to UK following Brexit
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney told Senators Government could get Northern Ireland protocol ‘back on an even keel’. File photograph: Alan Betson Post-Brexit focus should be on building relationships not border poll, says Coveney
Loyalist protesters converge on Belfast City Hall in 2013 over removal of the union flag from the the building. File photograph: PA 3:41 British government guidance on union flag reignites NI debate
Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking with US president Joe Biden via video link on St Patrick’s Day. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire Taoiseach says US interest in NI makes a difference at ‘delicate’ post-Brexit time
The NI protocol was co-designed by the EU and UK to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. Brexit red tape causing trade problems, says top food firm
A pixelated image of the graffiti with the name of Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and an address on the wall on Belvoir Street off the lower Newtownards Road in east Belfast. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Varadkar’s address daubed on Belfast wall in latest graffiti threat
US president Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday. Photograph: Erin Scott/Bloomberg 2:12 Martin and Biden to discuss North in virtual St Patrick's Day meeting
Paris has proposed a different ‘allocation key’ that would result in extra money from the compensation fund going to bigger states such as France, Spain and Italy. Photograph: iStock 3:06 Irish share of €5bn EU Brexit fund could be slashed under French plan
US vice-president Kamala Harris due to meet virtually tomorrow with Northern Ireland leaders. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images Kamala Harris expected to meet Northern Ireland leaders on St Patrick’s Day
There are still gaps in information provided by Britain on its intentions to diverge from EU rules, Mairead McGuinness said. File photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/ EPA EU expects financial services deal with UK but trust an issue, says McGuinness
EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic: he appealed to the UK government not to follow through on its announcement that it would continue to waive checks on some goods until October. Photograph: Getty Images Brexit: EU takes action against UK over extension of grace period
High Court heard claim by UK’s Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis there is no Irish Sea border do not match legal reality. File photograph: Tolga Ga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images UK claim there is no Irish Sea border does not match reality, court hears
US congressman Richard Neal: “This a reminder that there can be no disruption to the Good Friday Agreement, period.” Photograph: Getty Images US congressman warns a future US-UK trade deal is in the balance
The British government this week announced a further postponement on checks for goods entering Britain from the EU, although the EU has been checking goods moving in the other direction since the beginning of January. Photograph: Bloomberg British government plays down 40% slump in exports to EU
President Joe Biden: The draft resolution states the reintroduction of “barriers, checkpoints or personnel on the island of Ireland”, including through the invocation of article 16, “would threaten the successes of the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement”. Photograph: Mandel Ngan 2:42 US poised to unveil resolution backing Belfast Agreement
Accounts filed for Barclays Bank Ireland for the year to the end of December 2020 show it recorded an after-tax loss of €118m, compared with a profit of €19m a year earlier. Photograph: Getty Images Barclays’ Irish unit slips into €118m net loss
The EU introduced full checks on British imports on January 1st. Photograph: Getty Images Britain postpones checks on EU goods for six months
Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis said his government’s unilateral extension of grace periods for checks required by the Northern Ireland protocol was lawful, although he was unable to say which part of the protocol the government rested on to authorise its action. File photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images. British government accused of putting NI political stability at risk
The British government’s announcement of the unilateral extension of grace periods was done without notifying European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic. File photograph: EPA EU prepares legal action against UK over protocol
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and EU commissioner Maros Sefcovic will brief the Friends of Ireland caucus on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. File photograph: iStock Coveney and Sefcovic to brief Washington caucus amid Brexit concerns
First Minister Arlene Foster was accused of sitting down with the Loyalist Communities Council and ‘seeking common cause in your opposition against the protocol’. Photograph: PA Row erupts over Foster talks with Loyalist Communities Council
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster: ‘In order to find a solution, you have to have people who are willing to look for a solution.’ Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Brexit: Foster says Northern Ireland protocol doing ‘untold damage’
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic speaks during a press conference, February 23rd 2021. Photograph: John Thys/EPA Brussels to begin legal action against UK ‘very soon’ over NI protocol move
UK prime minister Boris Johnson: his government remains committed to the protocol and informed “at official level” the European Commission and the Government of its move. Photograph: Jessica Taylor/PA Biden underlines support for Belfast Agreement as tensions rise
Anti-Northern Ireland protocol and sea border poster in Cookstown, Co Tyrone: The European Parliament ditched plans to set a date for the ratification of the post-Brexit trade deal with Britain. Photograph: Jonathan Porter Extension of NI protocol period not breach of law, London claims
Biden ‘unequivocal’ about Belfast Agreement support as Dublin and London row over NI protocol
DUP First Minister Arlene Foster reacted angrily to remarks by Fine Gael Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney. Foster accuses Coveney of ignoring ‘deep’ unionist concerns
A loyalist sign in Lurgan, Co Armagh, about the Belfast Agreement amid tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire DUP says loyalist move on Belfast Agreement does not signal violence
The additional frequency and capacity on the route coincides with the start of the phased introduction of new border controls by the UK government on imports from the EU. Photograph: iStock Fourth ferry added to Rosslare-Dunkirk direct service
Boris Johnson did not warn the Taoiseach of the impending development when they spoke on the phone on Tuesday. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/ PA 3:43 Brexit: EU threatens legal action in Northern Ireland protocol row
The minister said engagement between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána was happening quickly and in most cases significantly faster than the minimum standard required between EU states. Photograph: iStock Brexit had ‘no impact’ on cross-Border policing co-operation, UK minister says
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said: “A unilateral announcement is deeply unhelpful”. File image: Gareth Chaney/Collins Government brands UK move to delay checks on goods entering North from Britain ‘deeply unhelpful’
Stormont ministers clash over Irish sea port checks. File Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Stormont ministers clash over Irish sea port checks
The IFSC and Dublin port. Dublin remains the most popular choice for UK financial services firms to relocate staff or operations to. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien 3:56 Dublin most popular city for Brexit relocations by financial firms
Gates at a site on Dargan Drive at Belfast Harbour Port, where Stormont’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has plans to build a new permanent Northern Ireland Point of Entry (POE) inspection facility. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire NI Minister says halting work on border control posts was ‘entirely proportionate’
Revenue’s head of customs operations Tom Talbot: ‘The concept of frictionless and seamless trade with the UK ended with its exit from the EU in January.’ Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Trade with Britain will not return to pre-Brexit model, exporters warned
Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg: If unionists can win a majority in Stormont “then they can vote down the protocol”. Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor DUP declares ‘guerrilla warfare’ on Northern Ireland protocol
Checks on agri-food shipments arriving into Northern Ireland from Great Britain have been in place at the North’s ports since the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1st. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire DUP minister orders halt to construction of inspection facilities for post-Brexit checks
Deputy chairman of the European Research Group (ERG) Mark Francois. Photograph: Peter Summers/Getty Tory hardliners urge ditching of Northern Ireland protocol
Grafton Group chief executive Gavin Slark. ‘While we remain cautious about first half revenue trends in our markets in light of Covid uncertainty, we expect to make further progress in the current year,’ he said on Thursday on the publication of its full year results. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Woodie’s sales jump 41% as much of Irish retail left in lockdown
First Minister Arlene Foster: accused the European Commission of not respecting the views of unionists, who she noted were the majority in the North. File Photograph: PA Wire Foster accuses European Commission of being tone deaf on impact of NI protocol
Kilkeel harbour in Co Down. Photograph: James Forde 4:43 NI food exporters go through Republic to avoid British ‘land bridge’
Jeffrey Donaldson (right), pictured with Arlene Foster and Nigel Dodds, said the protocol was ‘creating economic instability and has the potential to create political instability’. File image: Carl Court/Getty Images DUP petition condemning NI protocol debated in Westminster
Irish property developer Johnny Ronan has applied to An Bord Pleanala for permission to build a 45-storey residential tower in Dublin’s docklands. The plan is being opposed by Dublin City Council, which says the board has ‘no jurisdiction’ to permit the high-rise scheme. Photograph: Collins photos Moneylending declines, council opposes Ronan tower, and no jab, no job?
Democratic Unionist Party leader and Northern Ireland’s First Minister Arlene Foster (left), party deputy leader Nigel Dodds (centre) and Jeffrey Donaldson MP, photographed in 2017. They say they are planning a legal challenge against the Northern Ireland protocol. File photograph: Carl Court/Getty DUP plans legal challenge to Northern Ireland protocol
David Trimble: the Northern Ireland protocol “changes fundamentally” the constitutional relationship with the rest of the UK and ignores the principle of consent enshrined in the Belfast Agreement. Photograph: Eric Luke 1:34 Brexit sea border deal risks return to violence, Trimble claims
EU Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic will meet NI leaders on Thursday. Photograph: PA Wire Northern leaders to meet EU official in charge of post-Brexit NI trade
First Minister Arlene Foster said she wanted to find a permanent solution, to restore ‘unfettered’ trade with Great Britain. File photograph: David Young/PA Wire Foster appears to rule out ‘Swiss-style’ set-up for trade with Great Britain
European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic speaking to the media at London St Pancras station after arriving in the UK ahead of talks on the Northern Ireland protocol on February 11th. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire 3:32 EU fears Ireland risks undermining common cause by dwelling on Article 16
Michel Barnier arrives for a meeting at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, on February 9th. Photograph: Stephanie LeCocq/AFP via Getty Images Barnier fuels speculation of French presidency bid with move to set up new faction
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic who told the European Affairs Committee that mistakes were made. Photograph: Oireachtas TV/PA Wire 3:59 EU official blames ‘enormous pressure’ to secure vaccines for Article 16 ‘mistake’
The Jaguar logo is pictured at a Jaguar Land Rover showroom. Photograph: REUTERS/Vivek Prakash/File Photo Jaguar Land Rover lays out electric plans in radical overhaul
It could be up to six months before Brexit’s impact is understood. Photograph: John Fleming Port chiefs poised for post-Brexit disruption to exports
Trucks wait for embarkation at Rosslare. Brexit trade disruption fuels boom at Irish and French ports
Stranraer and Larne are 31 miles apart but a preferred route for the tunnel, based on research by Victoria engineer James Barton, would be diverted to avoid Beaufort’s Dyke, a 1,000ft deep trench in the Irish Sea. Photograph: Getty Images Proposed NI-Scotland tunnel fails to impress Stormont minister
A loyalist sign in Lurgan, Co Armagh, about the Belfast Agreement amid tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Former loyalist paramilitaries call for ‘rational’ talks on Northern Ireland protocol
Maros Sefcovic, European Commission vice-president for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, speaks to the press as he arrives at St Pancras station in London on Thursday. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA EU and UK reiterate ‘full commitment’ to NI protocol following meeting
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic at London’s St Pancras Station after arriving in the UK ahead of talks with cabinet office minister Michael Gove on the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire UK and EU appear to harden positions on implementing Northern Ireland protocol
Michel Barnier: ‘The difficulties on the island of Ireland are caused by Brexit, not by the protocol.’ Photograph: Stephanie Lecocq, Pool via AP Difficulties in the North due to Brexit, not protocol, insists Barnier
First Minister Arlene Foster. Photograph: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire Nationalists need Amazon ‘just as much as unionists’, says Foster
A woman walks past past graffiti with the words ‘No Irish Sea Border’ in Belfast city centre, Northern Ireland. Photograph: Peter Morrison/AP Brexit: EU rules out sweeping changes to checks at Northern Ireland ports
Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie, who was the only unionist representative present, warned there are ‘frictions and instabilities at this moment in time . . . we are going to have to address them’. DUP politicians swerve cross-Border meeting over North protocol
A sign protesting against the Northern Ireland Protocol is seen in Larne town centre. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images Businesses to struggle unless NI grace period extended, MPs hear
Michael Gove (left) and David Frost (front right) giving evidence to the Lords EU committee. Photograph: House of Lords/PA Wire Michael Gove rejects DUP call to scrap Northern Ireland protocol
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is to take questions from member states over the Article 16 triggering. File photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA Ursula von der Leyen set to take questions from MEPs in the European Parliament
A sign in Gilford in Co Down, about the Irish Sea border. Post-Brexit checks at all Northern Ireland’s ports will resume from Wednesday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Brexit checks to resume at NI ports following threats
Tom Talbot, head of Revenue’s customs operations, told a Government briefing that solutions to the delays ‘will come quickly’. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins 4:03 Revenue apologises for post-Brexit customs delays caused by IT issues
Michael Gove: “There are disruptions and difficulties faced by Northern Ireland citizens in their daily lives that need to be resolved. They can be resolved within the context of the protocol.” Photograph: PRU/AFP via Getty Images No need to ‘ditch’ Northern Ireland protocol, Gove tells MPs
Inspections on animal-based food produce arriving at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended last Monday amid concerns over the safety of staff. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Two charged over graffiti condemning Irish Sea border checks in Larne granted bail
Elton John on stage at the 3arena in Dublin as part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in June 2019. Photograph: Laura Hutton/The Irish Times Brexit negotiators ‘screwed up’ deal for musicians, says Elton John
File photo from December of lorries queuing at the Port of Dover in Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire Exports to EU down 68 per cent since Brexit, say UK hauliers
Council staff returned to work on Friday after the council examined a formal threat assessment report by police and also conducted its own safety assessment. File photograph: Getty Brexit: Unions deny raising concerns about suspicious activity at port checks
Traders and transport agents were unable to pre-enter shipments of imports into the Revenue system on Sunday and again on Wednesday with further delays reported on Thursday. File photograph: Getty UK goods delayed due to IT problems with customs system
A view of the port of Larne on Thursday. Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Some officials withdrawn from post-Brexit inspections return to work at Larne
An anti-Brexit sign near the entrance to Larne Port. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Need to address concerns with NI protocol not scrap it, Long says
Graffiti on a building reads “No Irish Sea border” in the Sandy Row area in Belfast. Photographer: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Poots ordered port staff withdrawal as unconvinced PSNI understood risk - official
In an open letter several Irish MEPs call on the president of the European Parliament to ensure accountability from European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen. File photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images Irish MEPs demand answers from von der Leyen over use of article 16
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney. File photograph: Cyril Byrne Calls to scrap North protocol ‘unrealistic’, Coveney says