Rishi Sunak ‘confident’ of NI Protocol talks breakthrough

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is confident that “with goodwill and pragmatism” a breakthrough can happen in negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

He was speaking after talks with Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin following a meeting of the British-Irish Council.

Mr Sunak said his focus was to find a “negotiated solution” with the EU.

He was “pleased with the progress that we’re making” on the protocol issue.

He also said he was “determined to deliver” the restoration of power-sharing at Stormont, which has not functioned since February.

That is because the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is refusing to take its place in the devolved government in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protocol is a part of the UK-EU Brexit deal that keeps Northern Ireland aligned with some EU trade rules.

Mr Martin said that he and Mr Sunak had agreed there was a “window of opportunity” to resolve issues regarding the protocol.

He said it was clear that “the prime minister desires a negotiated resolution… that works”.

The British-Irish Council summit is taking place in Blackpool on Thursday and Friday.

The council is made up of representatives from the UK and Irish governments, the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the governments of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey.

It was created two decades ago as a result of the Good Friday peace agreement.

Its stated aim is to “promote the harmonious and mutually beneficial development of the totality of relations among the peoples of these islands”.

Mr Sunak was the first prime minister to attend a council summit since 2007.

It is the 38th summit and the first time a Conservative prime minister has attended.

The prime minister met First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford at the summit.

Also in attendance were Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

However the Stormont stalemate means there are no ministers in place from Northern Ireland to take part.

The absence of an executive means Northern Ireland is being represented by Jayne Brady, the head of the civil service.

At the meeting Mr Sunak called for the governments to work together in “shared interests”.

“Let’s deliver for all our people across these great islands and build a future defined not by division but by unity and hope,” he said.

The prime minister also reiterated his commitment to restoring the Northern Ireland Executive, and said he was “determined to deliver” to restore power-sharing.

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris is also attending the two-day event.

On Wednesday, he announced that he was extending the deadline for an executive to be formed at Stormont, and cutting the wages of assembly members.

He said that would buy “time and space” for negotiations between the UK and EU on the protocol.

Political summits often call for photo opportunities – this one is no different.

Amid recent warm exchanges aimed at improving Anglo-Irish relations, we’ll witness a handshake between a new-ish PM still finding his feet in office, and a taoiseach about to leave office.

That’s because in just over a month’s time, the coalition government arrangement in the Republic of Ireland means Micheál Martin will be replaced in the top job by Leo Varadkar.

So while today is significant in that it’s Rishi Sunak’s first face-to-face meeting with the leader of the Irish government, the impending personnel change means another potential reset in relations.

That said the key issues the two governments face will remain the same – solve the protocol, solve the Stormont impasse.

Northern Ireland will be discussed during the summit, but the deadlock and lack of sitting Stormont ministers mean local politicians won’t be there to make their case directly to Rishi Sunak.

Instead, Jayne Brady the head of the civil service – who is waiting for word about what the government will do regarding a budget for Stormont – will be the only senior representative from Northern Ireland.