Ireland is warning other countries around the world not to trust the UK because it is run by a “government that doesn’t necessarily keep its word“.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar urged countries to be wary of the UK due to the “bad faith” demonstrated in plans to overhaul a key agreement in the Brexit deal.
After agreeing to the Northern Ireland Protocol – to allow checks on goods and services flowing between Britain and Northern Ireland, the UK has sought to change it constantly.
MEPs are unhappy about the UK’s attempts to renege on the agreement, but comments by Boris Johnson’s former top aide Dominic Cummings have caused anger.
In a series of tweets on Tuesday evening, the PM’s ex chief adviser indicated that it was never the British government’s intention to keep to the Brexit deal!
Shd we generally stick to deals? Of course. Sometimes break them? Of course. Just like the EU, US, China and every other state does. International diplomacy cannot be judged by the standards of a student duel, and lawyers are hired help not the masters
— Dominic Cummings (@Dominic2306) October 12, 2021
Leo Varadkar described those comments in an interview with RTE’s Morning Ireland as “very alarming because that would indicate that this is a government, an administration, that acted in bad faith and that message needs to be heard around the world“.
“At the moment they’re going around the world, they’re trying to negotiate new trade agreements.
“Surely the message must go out to all countries around the world that this is a British government that doesn’t necessarily keep its word and doesn’t necessarily honour the agreements it makes.
“And you shouldn’t make any agreements with them until such time as you’re confident that they keep their promises, and honour things, for example, like the protocol.”
Mr Varadkar’s comments come ahead of the EU setting out proposals to resolve the political stand-off over trade in Northern Ireland.
It is understood the EU will offer to remove up to 50% of customs checks on British goods entering Northern Ireland and that more than half the checks on meat and plants entering Northern Ireland would be ditched, according to reports.
They are unlikely to satisfy a UK Government demand over the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
On Tuesday, UK Brexit negotiator Lord Frost made clear the removal of the ECJ’s oversight function in relation to the protocol was a red line for the government.
The EC’s Maros Sefcovic has insisted that the EU will not move on the ECJ issue, pointing out that Northern Ireland would be unable to retain single market access – if the arrangement was not subject to oversight by European judges.
