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The Taoiseach has urged the DUP to put politics aside to find a practical resolution to problems after Brexit.<\/p>\nThe Taoiseach has urged the DUP to put politics aside to find a practical resolution to problems after Brexit.<\/p>\n
Miche\u00e1l Martin said the stance of Northern Ireland\u2019s largest unionist party on the Northern Ireland Protocol was disappointing.<\/p>\n
The DUP has vowed to scrap the mechanism, which has caused red tape on goods transported to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said: \u201cI\u2019m sorry that the DUP has taken this stance, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s the right way to deal with the question.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter Christmas, the DUP was happy to work with the protocol on a practical level, although they didn\u2019t agree with it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The protocol is designed to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland.<\/p>\n
The arrangements keeping Northern Ireland in line with the EU\u2019s single market regulations have heightened political tensions.<\/p>\n
Unionists and loyalists are angered at the imposition of economic barriers between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Saturday on RT\u00c9 Raidi\u00f3 na Gaeltachta, Mr Martin said the DUP\u2019s stance on Article 16 was disappointing.<\/p>\n
He added politics must be put aside to find a practical resolution to any difficulties within the structure of the Withdrawal Agreement.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cAs I said before, we need to dial down the rhetoric.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat type of politics is no good for anyone in my opinion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all have an obligation to dial it down, to come together to discuss these questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to put politics aside and deal with the issues within an economic, social and practical context.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the interview on An tSeachtain le M\u00e1ir\u00edn Ni Ghadhra, the Taoiseach said he was concerned at the increasing tension within unionism and loyalism on the matter and the DUP\u2019s boycott of north-south contacts.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWe\u2019re happy to work together with all parties to find a resolution to their concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a committee where these matters can be discussed, and problems can be resolved, within the Northern Ireland Protocol, and they should be used.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of work was done over several years on this, and it\u2019s not even two months since January.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the most effective way to deal with the questions are within the Agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the protocol, Northern Ireland remains in the EU single market for goods.<\/p>\n
Products entering from Great Britain must comply with strict EU rules on animal and plant health.<\/p>\n
Traders must complete new processes and checks to ship animal-based food products and plants across the Irish Sea into Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n