Taoiseach: Brussels lawsuit against UK over Brexit breaches was to be expected

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the European Commission legal proceedings against the UK over the controversial Internal Market Bill, were “to be expected”.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this morniing that Brussels had started infringement procedures with Boris Johnson’s government.

Mr Martin said: “It gave the United Kingdom a month to respond in relation to withdrawing the Internal Market Bill and the unilateral action it took in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol.

“I met with the President, she appraised me of the decision taken by the Commission. We also discussed how we will deal with Brexit over the coming weeks and obviously there is an obligation and concern across Europe at the unilateral action by the British government and for the UK Government to resile from that.

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“But parallel with that we are conscious of the need to conclude a comprehensive relationship agreement with the UK which is in the best interests of the people of Europe, the UK and Ireland.

“A sensible free trade agreement is something that we are seeking also.”

Mr Martin said he was “hopeful” that the talks could get to a more “intense phase over the next week or so”.

“One has to be cautious about times in relation to this issue. The issues are very substantive in terms of fisheries, in terms of state aid, in terms of governance,” he said.

“I think the mood is moving in the right direction towards better engagement that’s always important in terms of negotiations of this kind but there are serious challenges ahead.”

He added that Ireland was willing to play its part together with the EU in advancing the talks.

“I have said repeatedly and consistently that it is in the interests of the people that we represent, their livelihoods, their jobs, that all political leaders work collectively to make sure we get the best outcome for workers, for businesses and the people generally,” he said.

“That is ultimately our objective as a country.”

Ms von der Leyen said. “We had invited our British friends to remove the problematic parts of their draft Internal Market Bill by the end of September.

“This draft bill is, by its very nature, a breach of the obligation of good faith laid down in the Withdrawal Agreement.

“Moreover, if adopted as is it will be in full contradiction of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

“The deadline lapsed yesterday, the problematic provisions have not been removed.

“Therefore this morning the commission have decided to send a letter of formal notice to the UK Government. This is the first step in an infringement procedure.”

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage tweeted: “The ‘oven ready deal’ was an international treaty — for the EU Commission, that is like the Bible.

“Whilst the EU always acts in bad faith, all they are doing today is asking Boris to keep his promises.

“It should never have been signed in the first place.”

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is expected to make a statement at around 10am UK time on the Brexit divorce deal.

The UK Government has signalled it could tear up elements of the package relating to Northern Ireland in the UK Internal Market Bill, which cleared the Commons this week.

The European Union had called for the UK to withdraw the elements of the legislation which would breach international law by the end of September.

A UK Government spokesman said: “We will respond to the letter in due course.

“We have clearly set out our reasons for introducing the measures related to the Northern Ireland protocol.

“We need to create a legal safety net to protect the integrity of the UK’s internal market, ensure ministers can always deliver on their obligations to Northern Ireland and protect the gains from the peace process.”