Irish and British leaders to discuss Covid and protocol
Political leaders in Ireland and Britain are holding a meeting today at which they will discuss Covid-19 and UK-EU talks aimed at breaking the deadlock in the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The issues will be debated at a meeting of the British-Irish Council, which is being held in Wales.
The council brings together political leaders from the Irish and British governments and from the devolved administrations of the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will be among those attending.
As Brexit has done away with the regular meetings of Irish and British politicians and officials in Brussels, fora like the British Irish Council become more important for keeping open political communications.
The current Brexit talks on the Northern Ireland Protocol will affect not just Northern Ireland, but Scotland and Wales too. Their political leaders join those from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man around the table with the UK and Irish government.
Last night, the Taoiseach urged the British government not to wait until Christmas Eve to reach agreement with the EU to ease the flow of goods between Britain and Northern Ireland.
He said the issues can be resolved with goodwill on all sides.
Article Source – Irish and British leaders to discuss Covid and protocol – RTE – Sean Whelan