Northern Ireland Protocol: Rishi Sunak says he is working 'flat out' to restore power-sharing in Stormont amid ongoing row
The prime minister says he is "not going to give a running commentary on the negotiations", adding: "What is of paramount importance to me is protecting Northern Ireland's place in the union."
Friday 16 December 2022 12:35, UK
Rishi Sunak has said he is working "flat out" to try to restore power-sharing at Stormont in his first visit to Northern Ireland as prime minister.
Speaking to reporters, the PM said he is "absolutely committed to resolving the issues with the protocol" amid the ongoing impasse in Northern Ireland.
"I don't want to put a strict deadline on the deals and I don't want to raise people's expectations of an imminent breakthrough, but what I can say is I am absolutely committed to resolving the issues with the protocol as soon as is practically possible," he said.
"The foreign secretary met with his counterpart this week, talks are ongoing.
"I want to see an executive back up and running in Northern Ireland. That is what the people here need and deserve.
"And resolving some of the issues with the protocol, protecting Northern Ireland's place in the union, is absolutely of paramount importance to me."
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Westminster and Brussels continue to negotiate over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which was introduced after Brexit to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
However, it has effectively placed a border in the Irish Sea as Northern Ireland has to stick to some EU import/export rules, while goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are subject to a tariff if they are "at risk" of being moved into the EU afterward.
In May, Sinn Fein made history by becoming the first nationalist party to win the most seats in Northern Ireland Assembly elections, with the unionist DUP experiencing big losses.
The protocol is being blamed for much of that turnaround in votes, with the DUP refusing to take part in government unless the protocol is abandoned or replaced.
Read more: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?
Ministers in Westminster have now put forward a bill that allows it to change the protocol without the permission of the EU.
But the EU has threatened the UK with legal action if it does so.
Arriving in Northern Ireland yesterday, the PM held informal talks with senior representatives of the main parties at a hotel near Belfast.
He met all the parties in the same room and spoke to them separately for around 10 to 15 minutes each.
Both DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill - who is in line to become first minister of Northern Ireland if devolution is restored - were present.
Read more: Sunak and von der Leyen promise to 'work together' to solve NI Protocol row
Earlier, the local political leaders met with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris for cross-party talks in Belfast.
One key issue that featured in the discussions in Belfast on Thursday morning was the continued uncertainty over when £600 Treasury-funded energy support payments will be rolled out to householders in Northern Ireland.
Mr Sunak confirmed to reporters on Friday that the UK government would be making an announcement on the payments "very soon".
Last week, Mr Heaton-Harris cut the pay of MLAs by 27.5% to reflect the fact they are not doing their jobs as legislators.
If a new executive is not formed by January 19, the UK government assumes a legal responsibility to call a snap assembly election by April 13.