Varadkar ‘quietly confident’ that Northern Ireland Protocol deal will be reached soon

Although details of what was on offer were scant, soundings from the parties indicated a deal could be on the horizon

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: 'It’s not finalised, we haven’t all seen the final text yet, but we are getting there.' Picture: PA

Leo Varadkar has said “we’re not there yet” on a Northern Ireland protocol deal but added that he was “quietly confident” there could be an agreement within a fortnight.

The Taoiseach said that such an agreement would be a “big boost” for EU-UK relations, but also would achieve the “amazing prize” of re-establishing the Northern Ireland power-sharing institutions.