Taoiseach said “very significant difficulties” remain in the Brexit trade deal talks

DUBLIN: Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said that there are “very significant difficulties” in relation to fisheries in the Brexit trade deal talks between the EU and UK. Taoiseach’s comment came as leaders on the north and south sides of the border expressed support for the deal. The issue was discussed at a virtual meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.

Mr. Martin said: “If we get a substantive future relationship agreement between the UK and the EU that would make life much, much easier for all of us and particularly would give certainty and clarity to businesses and for workers north and south.”

The Taoiseach also said the trade agreement would open up opportunities for everyone on the island of Ireland. “Above all, it would give certainty and clarity to businesses on the island of Ireland,” he added.  However, Mr. Martin said that the agreement on the fisheries dispute was stalled and talks were continuing.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

Deputy Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said: “We’re all agreed that a free trade agreement between the UK and EU is to our advantage and is in the interests of business and workers and farmers and fishermen north and south.”

“So we will be using any influence we have to try to secure that agreement over the next couple of days.”

“I think it’s likely that any delays at the ports that are happening at the moment are related to stockpiling, a lot of businesses are going to want to fill their warehouses in advance of there being a deal or no deal as the case may be when it comes to Brexit,” he told a press conference after Friday’s meeting of the North South Ministerial Council.

“So we did anticipate that there would be some delays, largely related to stockpiling and businesses prudently wanting to fill their warehouses at this time.”

“In terms of disruption in the new year, we’re preparing for that. There will be some, of course there will.”

“There’s going to be new checks, new controls. Of course there will be delays and people will have to get used to new procedures and some people may not have their documents filled in and, yes, of course there are going to be difficulties in the new year, but we’re doing everything we can to reduce them and mitigate against them,” Mr. Varadkar said.