Taoiseach: No substitute for negotiated agreement over NI Protocol

Taoiseach Micheal Martin speaks to the media at the Grand Central Hotel, during his visit to Belfast for NI protocol talks with Stormont leaders and meet business representatives, at the Grand Central Hotel, Belfast. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said there is “no substitute” for substantive negotiations between the UK Government and European Union to resolve difficulties with the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The Taoiseach also said that an Assembly and Executive should be formed at Stormont while those negotiations continued and accused the UK Government of “moving the goalposts” over its approach to the protocol.