Monday 13 June 2022 06:07 PM Bill to scrap Northern Ireland Brexit rules is published trends now

The row over the Northern Ireland Protocol began almost as soon as the Brexit agreement with the EU came into force.

The two sides had to find a way of avoiding a hard border while maintaining the integrity of the UK, and avoid undermining the integrity of the EU customs union and single market.

The Protocol avoids a hard border between by effectively keeping Ulster inside the EU's single market. 

However, Brussels has been adamant that means checks on goods crossing the Irish Sea from Britain.

Unionists are implacably opposed to the idea, arguing it 'others' an integral part of the UK. 

The UK began talks seeking to alter the terms of the agreement, despite it having been signed off by the PM just months earlier.

The toughest part of the Protocol have never come into force, due to a series of delays brought in by both camps.

In March last year the UK unilaterally extended the agri-food exemptions, something that triggered the EU to start breach proceedings.

However, despite experts suggesting there is a landing zone available, political tensions have made a deal impossible.

The UK has threatened to trigger Article 16 of the Treaty, which is available to suspend the provisions if they are causing major social upheaval.

However, a command paper previously suggested using legislation instead as a more permanent solution.

The UK insists that the problem lies with the negotiating mandate given to vice-president Maros Sefcovic, which does not allow enough scope to find a settlement.

The Bill is now finally being published, spelling out the arrangements that the UK believes are feasible.

But it will take time to pass the law, and it is not likely to come into force immediately even when on the statute books.

As a result the government has more time - and it hopes more leverage - to hammer out an agreement.

The legislation could make it trickier though as the British demands are now spelled out in black and white, meaning potentially less scope for compromise. 

The Biden administration has also taken a dim view, urging continued talks to solve the problem. 

One carrot in the process is the chance to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland.  

DUP first minister Paul Givan resigned in February in an effort to force movement.

That left the Executive unable to function, due to the way it was set up to share power under the Good Friday Agreement. While ministers remained in post, they were restricted in the actions they could take.

Since 1998, when the governance system was devised as part of Northern Ireland's historic peace accord, the first minister has always been a Unionist.

That all changed last month, when Sinn Fein became the largest party at Stormont for the first time ever.

However, the DUP has insisted that it will not return until its demands over the Protocol are met. 

Ministers have made clear to the DUP that the new legislation will not be implemented unless they agree to resume powersharing first.