US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney yesterday held meetings with members of the Irish government to discuss Brexit and the peace process.
The discussions, which were held in Dublin, are part of a week-long visit to the UK and Republic of Ireland, which saw Mr Mulvaney meet First Minister Arlene Foster and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Brandon Lewis at Hillsborough Castle on Sunday.
It is his first visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic after taking over the role in March, which due to the coronavirus pandemic left him unable to travel.
Yesterday he held meetings with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney and Sinn Féin president Mary-Lou McDonald.
Speaking after the discussions, Mr Coveney said: "I emphasised our real concern at the current approach of the UK government and the vital importance of the full implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, for the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the achievements of the peace process."
Ms McDonald also described the meeting as "very useful" and said the envoy had reiterated his commitment to the Good Friday Agreement as well as discussing the Brexit situation.
Mr Mulvaney, the former chief of staff to US President Donald Trump, last night told RTÉ that the United States was here to "protect and defend" the Good Friday Agreement and did not want to see it damaged.
He said the US was "cautious" and "watching the situation" in light of the UK's Internal Market Bill.
An Irish-American, he also said he felt the UK would be able to do a trade deal with the EU soon but while the US was not concerned about a return to a hard border on the island, it was paying attention.
Mr Mulvaney is today expected to hold talks with the five main Stormont parties in Belfast before travelling to London for further engagements.
