Brexit

Martin Fraser has been secretary general at the Department of the Taoiseach for a decade. Photograph: GIS ‘Strategic genius’ and Brexit player: Who is Ireland’s next ambassador to London?

Martin Fraser is being handed a crucial role at a sensitive time in Anglo-Irish relations

Boris Johnson’s call for a freezing of protocol implementation while an effective renegotiation of it is sought is seen as bad faith. Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images EU response on NI protocol will depend on UK’s true intentions
Taoiseach Micheál Martin (L) and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar at the 26th plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, which took place via video conference. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire Britain’s amnesty plans for Troubles-related killings condemned at North-South meeting

Former DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds (C) member of cross-party House of Lords committee. Photograph: Tolga Akmentolga Akmen/AFP/Getty 2:54 Lords committee urges Britain and EU to resolve differences over NI protocol
Last week the UK’s Brexit minister, David Frost, told the House of Commons there should be a ‘significant change’. Photograph: PRU/AFP via Getty EU pauses legal action against UK over Northern Ireland protocol
Ian Marshall: warns tensions within unionism about checks and inspections on goods coming over the Irish Sea need to be addressed. Photograph: Patrick Bolger/Bloomberg Protocol ‘here to stay’, former senator says as he joins UUP
Boris Johnson: “Could you find one leader or influential voice in unionism who would tell you, on the record, they trust him?” Photograph: Leon Neal 6:20 Johnson is worst possible ally unionism could have
Climate protester’s placard: Boris Johnson has encouraged unrealistic unionist expectations that the Northern Ireland protocol’s essentials can be abolished. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg Ireland’s position in NI protocol row is delicate and difficult
During an interview, former Number 10 special adviser Dominic Cummings could not say for certain if Brexit was a good idea. Photograph: Jeff Overs/BBC/AFP Blame-gaming and rubbishing still the order of the day for UK establishment
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen: ‘We must jointly ensure stability and predictability in Northern Ireland.’ Photograph: Martin Divisek/EPA Brexit: EU chief rejects Johnson’s plea to renegotiate Northern Ireland protocol
Brexit minister David Frost pictured speaking at Westminster parliament on Wednesday where he announced UK government’s bid for changes to the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: PRU/AFP via Getty Images Brexit: EU ‘will not renegotiate’ Northern Ireland protocol as UK demands changes
Boris Johnson is determined to eliminate much of the friction caused by the protocol without agreeing to arrangements such as a Swiss-style veterinary agreement. File photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP via Getty Images Britain’s demand on NI protocol is audacious and certain to be rejected

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the British government was illustrating that the ‘protocol is not working’. File photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images London protocol move a ‘significant step in right direction’ – Jeffrey Donaldson
UK Brexit minister David Frost said: ‘These proposals will require significant change to the Northern Ireland protocol, and we do not shy away from that.’ Photograph: UK Parliamentary Recording Unit/AFP via Getty Images UK seeks renegotiation to eliminate most NI protocol checks
Marks & Spencer says it will not supply some Christmas products to Northern Ireland stores because of the risk that fresh food will be impeded by post-Brexit Customs arrangements. M&S plans to delist Christmas products from NI stores
British PM Boris Johnson discussed the Northern Ireland protocol with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday. File photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images British government to seek several changes to operation of Northern Ireland protocol
Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke with British prime minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday. Photograph: The Irish Times Johnson tells Martin EU must show ‘pragmatism’ on protocol
Supreme Court wants the Court of Justice of the EU to decide important legal issues concerning whether there is any legal basis, post-Brexit, for the continuance of the European Arrest Warrant system for the surrender of people between Ireland and the UK. European court asked if legal basis for surrender of people from Ireland to UK still holds
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Brexit minister David Frost pictured speaking at Westminster parliament on Wednesday where he announced UK government’s bid for changes to the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: PRU/AFP via Getty Images Brexit: EU ‘will not renegotiate’ Northern Ireland protocol as UK demands changes
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the British government was illustrating that the ‘protocol is not working’. File photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images London protocol move a ‘significant step in right direction’ – Jeffrey Donaldson
UK Brexit minister David Frost said: ‘These proposals will require significant change to the Northern Ireland protocol, and we do not shy away from that.’ Photograph: UK Parliamentary Recording Unit/AFP via Getty Images UK seeks renegotiation to eliminate most NI protocol checks
Marks & Spencer says it will not supply some Christmas products to Northern Ireland stores because of the risk that fresh food will be impeded by post-Brexit Customs arrangements. M&S plans to delist Christmas products from NI stores
British PM Boris Johnson discussed the Northern Ireland protocol with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday. File photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images British government to seek several changes to operation of Northern Ireland protocol
Taoiseach Micheál Martin spoke with British prime minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday. Photograph: The Irish Times Johnson tells Martin EU must show ‘pragmatism’ on protocol
Supreme Court wants the Court of Justice of the EU to decide important legal issues concerning whether there is any legal basis, post-Brexit, for the continuance of the European Arrest Warrant system for the surrender of people between Ireland and the UK. European court asked if legal basis for surrender of people from Ireland to UK still holds
DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson says the European Union needs to recognise that the Northern Ireland Protocol has “failed”. File Photograph: Peter Morrison/PA Wire DUP leader: Protocol barriers must be ‘swept away, not replaced’
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson speaking in the House of Commons, London, on the legacy of Northern Ireland’s troubled past earlier this week. Photograph: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/PA Wire Donaldson to meet EC vice-president to push NI Protocol objections
The British Retail Consortium says Northern Ireland consumers could face less choice and higher costs for food. Photograph: iStock NI supermarkets call for action to prevent Brexit trade disruption
Brexit minister David Frost will next week outline Britain’s proposals for changing the way the protocol is implemented. File photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP/Getty Images DUP will not support NI protocol overhaul unless checks on goods crossing Irish Sea removed
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney in Brussels on Monday. Photograph: John Thys/AFP via Getty British stance on food and animal standards may be hardening – Coveney
David Frost: ‘[The protocol] has got to respect the fact that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the customs territory of the United Kingdom.’ Photograph: EPA/Vickie Flores ‘All options on table’ if no agreement reached with EU on protocol, says Frost
British prime minister Boris Johnson told parliament in 2017 that the EU could “go whistle” if it expected London to shoulder a Brexit bill estimated at up to about €45.5 billion. UK and Brussels clash over €47.50bn Brexit divorce bill
British Labour party leader Keir Starmer with shadow Northern Ireland secretary Louise Haigh in Belfast. Photograph: Peter Morrison/PA Wire Starmer says Johnson has ‘not been straight about consequences’ of protocol
British Brexit minister David Frost has reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to the Northern Ireland protocol. File photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP via Getty Images Britain to set out proposals to resolve NI protocol impasse, David Frost says
David Frost: Plans to resolve issues surrounding the protocol will be detailed in the coming weeks. File photograph Leon Neal/Getty Images Details of UK plans on North protocol due ‘in weeks’
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer: ‘I am sad to say that, after nearly three decades of slow but steady progress, we now have a prime minister who has put his own narrow interest above those of the people of Northern Ireland.’ Photograph: Jessica Taylor/UK Parliament/AFP Photo Starmer calls on Johnson to take responsibility for NI protocol
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic. File photograph: John Thys/EPA/ POOL EU will step up legal action if UK does not adhere to NI obligations – Sefcovic
Micheál Martin: “It really is time to engage and make sure we get a resolution.” Photograph: Getty Images Martin says ‘window of opportunity’ exists for agreement on Northern Ireland protocol
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson met at Parliament Buildings in Belfast. Photographs: Sinn Féin/PA Wire and Charles McQuillan/Getty Donaldson and McDonald hold ‘constructive and frank’ first in-person meeting
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Coveney and Northern Secretary Brandon Lewis at Dublin Castle in June. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography/PA Wire Coveney says Britain showing ‘no generosity’ in protocol row with EU
Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Cork on Saturday for the launch of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme annual progress report. Photograph: Brian Lougheed Britain should reciprocate goodwill shown by EU on protocol – Martin
Lorries queue at the port of Rosslare Harbour in January , 2021. File photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images 8:49 ‘There is no room for error’: Six months after Brexit, companies are still adjusting
UK prime minister Boris Johnson and German chancellor Angela Merkel at Chequers. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA/Bloomberg 2:49 Johnson and Merkel ‘optimistic’ progress can be made on protocol
Freight movement figures for the first six months of Brexit show that the vast majority of trucks transited without checks or delays. File photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Brexit: 4% of inbound trucks from Britain ‘red-routed’ at ports for inspection
James O’Connor is the youngest member of the Dáil. File photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Fianna Fáil becoming ‘irrelevant and toxic’ to young people, TD tells party meeting
UK motorists in the EU do not have to carry green card insurance documents. File photograph: iStock UK drivers no longer required to carry ‘Green Card’ insurance in EU
Northern Irish drivers will be allowed to travel to Ireland with existing insurance documents. File photograph: Alan Betson EU agrees deal with Britain to extend grace period in ‘sausage war’
TUV leader Jim Allister, former Brexit Party MEP Ben Habib and Baroness Hoey with solicitor Colin Dougan outside Belfast High Court. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire Legal challenge to NI Protocol to be appealed, taken to Supreme Court , say unionists
Newly elected DUP leader designate Jeffrey Donaldson. Photograph: Peter Morrison/PA Wire 3:54 Four in five voters do not trust DUP over NI Protocol, survey suggests
Mr Coveney also said he didn’t accept unionist claims that checks and inspections on some goods traveling between Britain and the North “undermines their Britishness”. File Photograph Coveney urges Britain to ‘show some honesty’ around Brexit amid tensions in North
David Coghlan of Coghlan’s Bakery in Naas, Co Kildare, has sourced alternative supplies from Andrews in Belfast. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times 3:38 Brexit: Irish bakeries turn from Britain and look to EU and NI
Maros Sefcovic is the senior European Union official with responsibility for the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire EU post-Brexit negotiator is ‘confident’ of imminent solution to chilled meats issue
Some 97 per cent of the consignments were processed by inspectors at Dublin Port. In most cases where consignments were rejected, the product was destroyed. Photograph: Alan Betson 3:22 Post-Brexit checks rejecting less than 1% of British imports
The DUP has told European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic his position on the Northern Ireland protocol defies logic DUP tells European Commission VP ‘not to lecture unionists’ ahead of Stormont meeting
Heidi Steffen of Iona Health Food Shop in Holywood, Co Down: ‘Now every item [from Britain] needs a customs declaration.’ Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker North-South trade post-Brexit: ‘I’m avoiding England, it doesn’t work for me any more'
From left, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis, Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys, and Minister of State for Northern Ireland Robin Walker Coveney warns of ‘problem’ if UK not commited to post-Brexit deal on NI
EU leaders are expected to confront Viktor Orbán over new Hungarian legislation that prohibits gay people from featuring in educational materials or broadcast content aimed at under-18s. File photograph: Stephanie Lecocq/EPA Martin says strong European response required to Hungarian legislation
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has defended the Northern Ireland protocol. File photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins McDonald warns Donaldson against collapsing powersharing over NI protocol
Peter Hain when he was the UK’s Northern Ireland secretary in 2005. File photograph: Paul Faith/PA Britain to blame for eroding trust with Ireland, says former NI secretary
Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis. File photograph: Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images EU expected to extend NI Protocol grace period on chilled meats, with caveats
A flotilla of up to 70 fishing vessels from around the Irish Coast assembles at Dublin Port for a protest to highlight Brexit losses that have left coastal communities in fear of economic collapse. Photograph: Alan Betson 2:33 ‘The future is very scary’: Fishermen and women voice concerns for industry
EU rules prohibit importation of chilled meats from outside the EU, thus preventing the importation of sausage and other chilled meats to the North from the rest of the UK. Photograph: PA 2:38 Martin presses EU for longer grace period over NI 'sausage war'
Outgoing DUP Leader Edwin Poots said the EU ‘seem to be hanging their hat’ on a Swiss-style solution — an alignment on veterinary and food standards — but that ‘isn’t going to happen in reality’. Photograph: Mark Marlow/PA Wire Poots suggests NI protocol should be put to a referendum
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins Political debate in Northern Ireland becoming ‘quite aggressive’ – Coveney
TUV leader Jim Allister. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Northern Ireland protocol has ‘wicked intent’, Down protest told
Maros Sefcovic, a vice-president of the European Commission, departs from Europe House in London last week. Photograph: Chris J Ratcliffe/Bloomberg EU negotiator warns UK ‘our patience cannot last forever’ on NI protocol
Dairy products were worst hit, with UK milk and cream exports to Europe dropping 90%. Photograph: iStock Brexit cuts UK food and drink exports to EU by almost half
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said that it was ‘very welcome’ that agreement on the fund was reached ‘so swiftly’ with the European Parliament. State ‘much closer’ to receiving €1bn share of EU’s Brexit fund
Britain’s Brexit minister David Frost pictured earlier this month. Photograph: Eddie Mulholland/AFP Frost accuses EU of taking purist approach to movement of chilled meats
Ship movements from Europe have spiked at Dublin Port following Brexit and the operator of that part of the port terminal can no longer facilitate trains in the area. File photograph: Aidan Crawley 3:27 Dublin Port rail link suspended due to Brexit congestion
British prime minister Boris Johnson (left) discussed the Northern Ireland protocol during a bilateral meeting with US president Joe Biden during the G7 summit in Cornwall. Photograph: PA Biden had ‘candid discussion’ with Johnson on Northern Ireland protocol
Boris Johnson speaks during a news conference on the final day of the G7 summit in the UK. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA/Bloomberg European leaders confront Johnson over failure to implement NI protocol
Micheál Martin’s comments come after Boris Johnson escalated his dispute with the European Union over post-Brexit trading arrangements by warning he would not hesitate to take unilateral action to protect the position of Northern Ireland. Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg Breakthrough between EU and UK possible if there is will, says Taoiseach
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney at the British Irish Council summit at Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, on Friday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire Northern Ireland Protocol: Unilateral action ‘never works’, Coveney warns British
British prime minister Boris Johnson greets German chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of a bilateral meeting during the G7 summit in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, on Saturday, June 12th, 2021. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool/Getty EU leaders rule out changes to NI Protocol, tell UK it must fulfil obligations
British prime minister Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden: Mr Johnson said the US president did not express concern over Britain’s unilateral actions over the protocol and his failure to negotiate agreed solutions to its difficulties with the EU. Photograph: Hollie Adams 3:49 Biden and Johnson reaffirm commitment to Belfast Agreement
US president Joe Biden and British prime minister Boris Johnson pose for photographers during their bilateral meeting in Cornwall. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times Johnson claims there is ‘complete harmony’ between UK and US over protocol
British prime minister Boris Johnson and US president Joe Biden, speak as they look at copies of the Atlantic Charter during their bilateral meeting in Carbis Bay, Britain. Photograph: Hollie Adams/EPA Leaders in ‘complete harmony’ on Belfast Agreement, says Johnson after Biden talks
US president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrive on Air Force One at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, ahead of the G7 summit in Cornwall. Photograph: Joe Giddens/WPA Pool/Getty Images 3:21 Biden to press Johnson to resolve dispute with EU over NI Protocol
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic (L) and his UK counterpart David Frost meet in London. Photograph: Eddie Mulholland / POOL / AFP EU shoots down suggestion Ireland could be shut out of single market
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic before the start of the first EU-UK partnership council at Admiralty House in London. Photograph: Eddie Mulholland/Daily Telegraph/PA Wire Patience with UK wearing ‘very thin’, says Sefcovic after Brexit talks end with no result
Simon Hoare MP: ‘There are a lot of my friends and others who don’t get how anybody can identify their sense of national belonging and identity by the customs arrangements that, for example, moves their cornflakes from the Tesco warehouse in Daventry to the Tesco shelf in Belfast.’ File photograph: iStock British ‘don’t get’ how checks on goods into North threatens unionism, MP says
Taoiseach Micheál Martin: seeking to play down tensions between the EU and the UK over the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw Frost and Sevcovic to meet amid mounting NI protocol crisis
An Taoiseach Michéal Martin on Princes Street in Cork city on Tuesday. He said: ‘We will take it step by step – before Christmas we had similar issues, we were heading towards a no-deal Brexit – Maros Sefcovic and David Frost managed to work things out and they got sorted.’ Photograph: Michael O’Sullivan /OSM Photo Taoiseach plays down NI protocol tensions over meat checks
Brexit minister David Frost: “We underestimated the effect of the protocol on goods movements to Northern Ireland...” Photograph: EPA/Vickie Flores EU warns patience is wearing thin on UK’s approach to NI protocol
Loyalists took part in an anti-Northern Ireland protocol rally in Portadown, Co Armagh on Saturday. Photograph: PA EU warns ‘patience wearing thin’ on Northern Ireland protocol
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney: “I think there is a sense within the EU and within EU capitals that the frustration has got to result in the EU perhaps changing the approach.” Photograph: Tom Honan 2:44 EU could retaliate against Britain over protocol, Coveney warns
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar: ‘I have to emphasise that the only sustainable solutions are joint solutions, not unilateral action that would bring us nowhere.’ Photograph Nick Bradshaw Northern Ireland faces ‘turbulent few months’ over Brexit, says Varadkar
Experts at Aston University in Birmingham found that UK services exports from 2016 to 2019 were cumulatively £113 billion lower than they would have been had the UK not voted to quit the EU in June 2016. Brexit shrank UK services exports by £110bn, academics find
Third level institutions in Ireland have the potential to attract substantial numbers of additions overseas students post-Brexit but need investment to do so, a Seanad Special Select Committee has been told. File photograph: Dara MacDónaill / The Irish Times Irish third level sector needs “significant funding” to capitalise on Brexit
DUP leader Edwin Poots has accused the EU of doing ‘demonstrable harm’ to the peace process. Photograph: Rebecca Black/PA Wire Poots accuses EU of using Northern Ireland ‘as a plaything’
A group of constitutional experts suggest that British and Irish governments should work together to start planning in good time before the referendums. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire 2:56 Calling a Border poll without clear plan would be unwise, experts warn
The incoming DUP leader Edwin Poots was answering questions in the Assembly on Tuesday in his capacity as the North’s Minister for Agriculture. Photograph: PA Edwin Poots says North-South relations have ‘never been worse’
Fishing vessels in Cobh, Co Cork. File photograph: Getty Fishermen to march on Taoiseach’s Cork office over Brexit deal and fish quota
Ursula von der Leyen: ‘There should be no doubt that there is no alternative to the full and correct implementation of the protocol’ File photograph: Thierry Monasse/Bloomberg No alternative to Northern Ireland Protocol, EU says
President Michael D Higgins with French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at Aras an Uachtaráin. Photograph: Maxwells ‘Honour’ of British government at stake on NI protocol
UK Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost: “What we would like to see is an equivalence arrangement which reflects the fact that we both operate high food standards.” Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty NI protocol to keep UK-EU relationship ‘a bit bumpy’, says Frost
Former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith has said the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol is going nowhere. Photograph: Daniel Olivas/AFP via Getty Images. Northern Ireland to have ‘big, big opportunities’ because of protocol
British minister David Frost has told MPs that negotiations with Brussels have not yet dealt with the heart of the problem with the Northern Ireland protocol. Photograph: Aris Oikonomou/AFP via Getty Images NI protocol: EU talks have not dealt with key issue, says Frost
Britain’s chief European Union negotiator said Britain’s new relationship with the EU ‘won’t be right’ until problems arising out of the protocol are settled. Photograph: Aris OIkonomou/AFP via Getty UK’s EU negotiator damaging North’s economy by ‘picking fights’ – O’Toole
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’
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
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
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
Fires burn in Carrickfergus after a night of disturbances across Northern Ireland. File Photograph: Pacemaker Johnson warned ‘action is needed now’ on Northern Ireland