The assertion by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the terms of the negotiated Northern Ireland Protocol might be too strict has prompted a clarification from his office to the effect that the Protocol agreement is not up for any renegotiation.
According to an Irish Times report, a spokesman for Mr. Varadkar said it was not the Taoiseach’s intention to suggest that the text of the Northern Ireland protocol could be renegotiated, but rather that there was scope for more flexibility in its implementation.
Stated the Times report: "Speaking to political correspondents at Government Buildings after the first Cabinet meeting of the year, the spokesman said Mr. Varadkar’s comments about the protocol perhaps being 'too strict' were not a signal that the text of the agreement could be rewritten.
The spokesman said it was not the Taoiseach’s “intention” to signal that changing the text of the protocol was now up for discussion between the EU and the UK. Rather, he added, Mr. Varadkar was seeking to suggest that the “issue of flexibility is an important one”.
Mr. Varadkar’s comments were widely reported by the Irish and UK media.
He had said: “One thing I have said in the past is that, when we designed the protocol, when it was originally negotiated, perhaps it was a little bit too strict.”
Continued the Times report: "The comments led to speculation that a change to the text of the protocol could be on the table, but the EU and Dublin have repeatedly ruled that out in the past and Mr. Varadkar’s spokesman was keen to play down the suggestion that something had changed.
"The EU has, however, indicated that it would be willing to agree to a less rigorous implementation of the protocol, which would see the vast majority of checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain eliminated."
Mr. Varadkar's spokesman confirmed that the Taoiseach had not yet spoken to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, but that their respective offices had been in touch. He said Mr. Varadkar hopes to visit Northern Ireland later this month.
