Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While I am not saying it is impossible, I am not as optimistic that we will secure the close and comprehensive deal we would like. I would not say that the UK is backtracking on what has been agreed but we have not seen enough information thus far to know that the protocol can be fully implemented. I certainly welcome the fact that the UK has published a paper and that it has said that there will need to be checks on certain goods moving into Northern Ireland from the UK. I welcome the progress that has been made in other areas and the focus on the infrastructure needed in the North. At the same time, I am concerned about wording which refers to the protocol as being temporary and about the paper potentially being more targeted at individual domestic audiences. We now need further detail to be sure that the protocol can be fully implemented by the end of the year. I do not think the UK is backtracking. It has given a very clear commitment to Northern Ireland, to the peace process and to the implementation of this protocol. We fully accept that but we now need to see further detail from the UK in order that we can be sure this can be implemented.

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