Leo Varadkar, the prime minister of Ireland, expressed concern about the protocol forced on Northern Ireland without unionist and nationalist backing.
The policy was effective, he told, although he understood why unions thought it had “weakened the union.”
Since its implementation in 2021, the protocol that keeps Northern Ireland connected with certain EU trade standards after Brexit has been a source of conflict.
Unionist parties argue that it weakens Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom.
Mr. Varadkar was re-elected Taoiseach, or prime minister of Ireland, last month.
He previously held the position from 2017 to 2020. And so participated in the Brexit negotiations that finally resulted in the formation of the protocol. Although the protocol has been in existence for more than a year. It continues to be a source of controversy, with the UK and EU continuing to negotiate a resolution.
It is an agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom that permits products to cross the Irish land border without inspection.
Before Brexit, it was simple to carry goods across this border because both sides adhered to the same EU regulations. However, after the UK left the EU, specific commercial arrangements were required to ensure that this could continue.
Leo Varadkar laments the NI Protocol
The EU maintains tight food regulations and requires border inspections for certain non-EU imports, such as milk and eggs.
Because of Northern Ireland’s complex political past, the land border is a contentious topic. As part of these checks, it was anticipated that cameras or border posts could cause instability.
Unionist parties argue that establishing a border across the Irish Sea would damage Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom.
In protest over the protocol, former Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Paul Givan resigned as first minister in February 2022. Leading to the collapse of the power-sharing arrangement. Northern Ireland has not had a devolved government since then.
Under Northern Ireland’s power-sharing system of government, which was implemented in the 1990s to end decades of violence, Sinn Féin, which became the largest party in the Northern Ireland Assembly last year, cannot nominate its first minister until the DUP nominates a candidate for the position of deputy first minister. In its continuous protest against Brexit commercial arrangements, the DUP refuses to do.
Faisal Islam asked Mr. Varadkar if anything could have been done better during the protocol negotiations. In response, Mr. Varadkar stated that his greatest regret was that the policy had been “forced on Northern Ireland. Without the backing of both communities.”
“Just as Brexit was put on Northern Ireland without the support of both communities, the protocol was placed on Northern Ireland without the support of two communities,” he said, attributing some of the blame to the fact that Northern Ireland’s government “was not working.”
Northern Ireland’s economy
However, Mr. Varadkar stated that the protocol was economically effective. Citing the absence of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic as evidence.
Additionally, he stated at the World Economic Forum in Davos that Northern Ireland’s economy was “outperforming the British economy.”
But Mr. Varadkar said he understood why unionists and unionist politicians believed the protocol had “weakened the unity between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom” without them “having a legitimate input in how it runs.”
The interview with Mr. Varadkar occurred during an ongoing stalemate at Stormont, the parliament of Northern Ireland.
Since February 2022, there has been no functioning devolved government at Stormont due to the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) withdrawal in protest at the Protocol.
Before considering a return to the assembly, the party demands a fundamental revision to the protocol and has maintained its boycott of Stormont.
Mr. Varadkar stated that he hoped a new agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom could be struck “sooner rather than later”. Praising UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as someone who would “get things done and conduct business.
“The likelihood of an agreement… within the next few months is extremely real. And it can be reached with rationality and flexibility on both sides,” he added.
In response to his remarks, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson stated. “The Northern Ireland Protocol has never enjoyed unionist support and never will.” It was implemented against the unionists’ will.
While the Taoiseach’s remarks are welcome, London, Dublin, and Brussels must now redouble their efforts to replace the protocol with measures that unionists can embrace, rather than dwelling on the past.
