Taoiseach: EU did not warn Government of plan to restrict Covid-19 vaccine exports to North

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking in Cork today. He admitted: 'Certainly we seem to have been blindsided in relation to the obviously very significant implications for the operations of the protocol.' Picture: Michael Mac Sweeney

The EU did not warn the Government it was going to restrict Covid-19 vaccine exports from the EU to Northern Ireland, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has revealed.

Mr Martin said the Northern Ireland Brexit protocol became “collateral damage” in a serious row between the European Union and Astra Zenaca over the supply of vaccines.