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Varadkar, Sunak hopeful for deal, but 'more to be done'

Updated / Friday, 17 Feb 2023 19:39

The Taoiseach has said he believes the prospect of agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol is there, possibly within a week.

It comes as British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "there is more work to do" on finding a deal to fix the issues with the protocol. Mr Sunak held meetings today with the leaders of the five main Stormont parties in Northern Ireland.

The talks came amid mounting speculation that the British government and the European Commission are on the cusp of announcing an agreement on the Northern Ireland Protocol.

In another apparent sign of progress, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly met European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič in Brussels.

Speaking in Limerick, Leo Varadkar said the prospect of a deal brings with it the "amazing prize of getting a functioning government back up and running in the North so that the Good Friday Agreement can work as it was intended".

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While he said lot of progress is being made, he cautioned: "We're not there yet ... but a lot of trust has been built up between the UK, Ireland and the EU.

"I do believe the prospect is there of having an agreement ... possibly within a week. We haven’t seen the final text … but we are getting there."

Mr Varadkar said would be a deal would be a big boost, "because it would allow us to normalise political and trading relationships between Britain and the European Union including Ireland, putting an end to a very difficult period that started with the Brexit referendum".

He said that most importantly it opens the prospect of getting the Assembly and the Executive in Northern Ireland up and running, so that people have a functioning government in Northern Ireland and have the Good Friday Agreement working again.

Mr Varadkar said that Tánaiste Micheál Martin has been in touch with his European counterparts and that he himself will be in contact with the President of the European Commission with Ursula von der Leyen over the weekend.

"We have managed to get to this point by keeping the whole process confidential and trust has been built up and this has helped get us to this point," Mr Varadkar said.

'More work to do'

Rishi Sunak leaves the Culloden Hotel after meetings with the Stormont parties

It comes as Prime Minister said "there is more work to do" on finding a deal to fix the issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Speaking to broadcasters in Downing Street after returning from a trip to Northern Ireland, Mr Sunak said he had "positive conversations" with political parties in Northern Ireland about discussions to resolve the Northern Ireland Protocol.

"Now it is clear that we need to find solutions to the practical problems that the protocol is causing families and business in Northern Ireland, as well as address the democratic deficit," Mr Sunak said.

"There is more work to do, and that's why my ministerial colleagues and I will continue talking to the European Union intensely to find solutions that protect the Belfast Good Friday agreement and Northern Ireland's place in our single market."

He said he had set himself tests on any potential agreement with Brussels on the protocol, including "crucially" addressing the "democratic deficit" in the Brexit deal.

Earlier today, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said progress has been made across a range of areas but further work is required before a deal on the protocol is struck.

Speaking after a meeting with Mr Sunak, he said the negotiations should be led by getting it right and not by timelines.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson speaks following his meeting with British PM Rishi Sunak

"Clearly this is a big moment, the next generation of Northern Ireland and its people requires us all, I think, collectively to use our best efforts - particularly the prime minister and the European Commission president - to get these issues resolved and to get to a place where the political institutions can be restored," he said.

"The decisions that will be taken by the prime minister and by the European Commission will either consign Northern Ireland to more division or they will clear a path towards healing and to the restoration of the political institutions.

"Over the last 48 hours we've been engaging with officials and met the prime minister last evening and this morning.

"We have not yet seen the final text of an agreement, clearly there will be further discussions between the UK government and the European Union, but I think it is safe to say that progress has been made across a range of areas, but there are still some areas where further work is required."

Earlier, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also said she believes significant progress has been made in negotiations between the UK and EU, adding "it's game on".

"It's clear now that significant progress has been made and we're very heartened by that," she said after meeting Mr Sunak in Belfast.

"We now want to see a speedy conclusion of matters and, above all else, we want to see the institutions restored, government restored here in the North.

"The bottom line is that we have to ensure that any deal provides for ongoing access to the European single market, no hardening of the border on the island of Ireland and a protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts.

"Those are the core elements and aspects that need to be protected. But it seems to us that it's very much game on.

"We're very heartened by that, we're very conscious that a deal can be done, should now be concluded speedily, we hope that that will be the case.

"Then it's a matter for everyone, for each of the political parties to step up, get back to work and deliver for people here."

She added: "I think we've all seen in recent weeks certainly an upping of the pace of political engagement and activity.

"That, to our mind, is a very, very positive thing. It's absolutely necessary that there is intensive goodwill, good faith work done between the parties."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood (R) and party colleague Matthew O'Toole

Earlier, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr Sunak told his party that a deal "is not done yet".

Mr Eastwood said he thinks that Mr Sunak "is clear that lots of progress has been made and that's what we've been hearing from the European side and Dublin as well".

"But he said it's not done and he is going to Munich to see (European Commission President) Ursula von der Leyen and we'll see what comes out of that but I would be fairly optimistic that we're very close to an agreement."

He told reporters: "I spoke to the Taoiseach (Leo Varadkar) last night, I don't think this is totally done and dusted yet but it's nearly there.

"We're coming very close to the time where people have to decide whether or not they're going to take 'yes' for an answer.

"I think most of the issues that the DUP have put on the table will be resolved, and we all know in every negotiation you don't get everything you want."

Explainer: The Northern Ireland Protocol

Reports have suggested that Mr Sunak could brief his Cabinet on the deal and announce it on Tuesday.

The UK and the EU have been embroiled in substantive negotiations over the workings of the protocol, agreed to ensure the free movement of goods across the Irish land border after Brexit.

The protocol has proven to be deeply unpopular with unionists and the DUP has collapsed the power-sharing institutions at Stormont in protest at the arrangements.

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said that while Mr Sunak did not go into much detail about the protocol negotiations, it "seems apparent things are moving towards a deal", but she added that it's clear there is still some "heavy lifting" to be done and it is not yet over the line.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said Mr Sunak had not provided any detail on the negotiations between the UK and EU.

Mr Beattie said he believes "they are working very hard to come up with a deal" and that while it's possible there could be an announcement next week, it "could be another couple of weeks".

Additional reporting Cathy Halloran and PA

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Northern Editor