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Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin today boosted hopes of a Brexit breakthrough on the Northern Ireland border row as he said the 'mood music' has changed in talks between the UK and the EU.
Mr Martin said he believes the negotiations on improving the Northern Ireland Protocol are now in a more constructive place and 'what is happening is good and positive'.
However, he insisted there is still a 'long way to go' to resolve the remaining issues as he cautioned the UK against unilaterally suspending border checks if Brussels fails to budge.
The UK has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol which would see the existing arrangements torn up - but Mr Martin warned that 'unilateralism never works'.
His intervention came as Brexit Minister Lord Frost meets with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic for face-to-face talks in Brussels today.
Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin today boosted hopes of a Brexit breakthrough on the Northern Ireland border row as he said the 'mood music' has changed in talks between the UK and the EU
Brexit Minister Lord Frost is meeting with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic for face-to-face talks in Brussels today
The Northern Ireland Protocol, agreed as part of the original Brexit deal, requires checks on goods to be carried out at ports in order to avoid the return of a land border with the Republic.
But it has caused disruption to trade and angered unionists who have demanded the rules be scrapped, arguing they create a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.
The UK and the EU have been holding talks for months on how to
