And Tony Martin, the British Foreign Minister and a close ally of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, has said it was now time for Lord Frost and the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to work closely with Brussels to find solutions to all the outstanding problems with respect to Northern Ireland Protocol. Under the terms of the protocol, which was reached by the UK and EU as part of the 2020 Withdrawal Agreement, the European Court of Justice would be the final arbitrator in any future trade dispute between the two parties on the operation of the Protocol.
The UK says now that it has ruled out the Provision and will replace it with an independent arbitral process - something Maros Sefcovic is the point man for Brexit on Wednesday in Brussels. Nevertheless, Mr Sefcovic unveiled a number of key concessions, including an 80 percent cut in checks and regulations for goods entering Northern Ireland. In an implied rebuke of Lord Frost, Dr Martin, who as Taoiseach is the Irish equivalent of Prime Minister, said: The British Government has pleaded that they didn't fully understand the implications of the Protocol or withdrawal agreement.
I think the European Commission has shown that they are really willing and open to bring a resolution. Mr Martin said that during the final meeting with Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister indicated he wanted another opportunity to seek a resolution. The leader of Fianna Fail added: The stakes are high in Northern Ireland over making sure that we can maintain the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and political stability in Northern Ireland. Is Poland willing to stay in EU? Bitcoin price surges ahead of Apple BLOG Royal Family LIVE: William's space probe claim sparks fury ROYAL Vicky Price shoots down Sturgeon's dreams of independence LATEST He said: Even in discussions with the British Prime Minister that I had with him it was about, for example, chilled meats. Mostly people would speak about the sausages getting through to Northern Ireland, well now you know what and the sausages will get to Northern Ireland. Additionally, holding emphasis on the fact he and the European Commission are in solution mode, Mr Martin paid tribute to Mr. Sefcovic for how he and the European Commission have handled post-Brexit matters saying: It's been a sincere, hard-working and very sensitive and committed approach.
Maros Sefcovic has really consulted with people all around. His engagement with the Northern Ireland Government to get a sense of things, he went north and spoke to people on the ground in Belfast and business and industry, and had all the parties meeting. Currently, Lord Frost who clashed with Mr. Coveney on Twitter earlier this week over the issue released a statement yesterday in which he likewise welcomed Mr Sefcovic's announcements. Mr Coveney said: These bespoke solutions make it easier for Northern Irish businesses to move goods into Northern Ireland without at the same time losing any of the advantages of full access to the EU single market.