{"id":24794,"date":"2022-01-14T08:06:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T13:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24794"},"modified":"2022-01-15T08:08:30","modified_gmt":"2022-01-15T13:08:30","slug":"liz-truss-says-that-there-is-a-deal-to-be-done-on-ni-protocol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24794","title":{"rendered":"Liz Truss Says That ‘There Is A Deal To Be Done’ On NI Protocol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Foreign Secretary Liz Truss hosts European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic at Chevening (PA Wire\/PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

British foreign secretary Liz Truss has said there is a \u201cdeal to be done\u201d with the European Union over the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following her first meeting with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic, held at her official residence at Chevening in Kent, she said they had agreed to hold further talks on January 24th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, she refused to rule out the possibility the UK could invoke Article 16 \u2013 suspending part of the arrangements in the protocol \u2013 if they could not agree a way forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have had constructive talks with the EU. We are now going to going into intensive negotiations to work towards a negotiated solution to sort out these very real issues for the people of Northern Ireland,\u201d she said in a pooled broadcast clip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there is a deal to be done. I do want to make progress. Clearly if we don\u2019t make sufficient progress we will have to look at the alternatives, but my absolute desire is to get a deal that works for the people of Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms Truss assumed responsibility for the negotiations with the EU following the resignation of the Brexit minister David Frost last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The British government is seeking substantial changes to the protocol \u2013 which forms part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement \u2013 arguing that it is hampering the free movement of goods between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and damaging community relations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a joint statement, Ms Truss and Mr Sefcovic said: \u201cThe meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. They agreed that officials would meet next week in intensified talks and that the principals would meet again on January 24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe share a desire for a positive relationship between the EU and the UK underpinned by our shared belief in freedom and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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