Northern Ireland

Chris Heaton-Harris believes there is a 'landing zone' for a protocol agreement ahead of high level talks in Brussels

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Foreign Secretary James Cleverly

SECRETARY of State Chris Heaton-Harris has said he believes there is a "landing zone" where agreement on the protocol can be found between the UK and EU.

His comments come ahead of face-to-face talks today in Brussels between British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly and European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic.

Hopes remain that the two sides can find an agreed way to break the continued impasse around the post-Brexit trade arrangements.

A spokesman for the European Commission said today's meeting was part of the "ongoing engagement" between the senior politicians on the protocol.

While the British government has expressed hope of reaching a negotiated settlement with Brussels, it has vowed to secure changes to what it consented to as part of the Withdrawal Agreement through the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill.

The legislation, which is currently being considered by the House of Lords, would empower ministers to unilaterally scrap the bulk of the arrangements without EU approval.

Weekend reports said the bill had been put "on ice" while negotiations with the EU intensified.

Yesterday at Westminster during Northern Ireland questions, shadow secretary of state Peter Kyle said it was "good news that the prime minister has paused the protocol bill".

"Can the secretary of state confirm that negotiations are on track to deliver an agreement that all communities can support by January 19?" Mr Kyle asked, referencing the deadline after which an assembly election must be called.

Mr Heaton-Harris, who will today meet Stormont's main parties, said he was optimistic of a breakthrough but could not provide a timescale.

"I have regular discussions with Northern Ireland political leaders on Northern Ireland matters including the protocol and the government is engaging in constructive dialogue with the European Union to find the solutions to the problems the protocol is causing, and we are also proceeding with the legislation which aims to fix to these problems in the event that we cannot reach a negotiated solution," he said.

"As (Mr Kyle) knows, I am a glass half-full man and I really, truly believe there is landing zone that has been identified by all parties to aim for. Can I confirm the date? No. Can I give a running commentary? I'm afraid I can't."

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said progress in the talks had been "frustratingly slow" with "limited political level engagement".

"In that context, this meeting between the foreign secretary and the EU Commission vice-president is encouraging, however, engagement alone doesn’t bring solutions, and there is a need for pragmatism on both sides to deliver mutually agreed and sustainable outcomes," the North Down MP said.

"I was encouraged by the tone of Rishi Sunak’s response to me last week at Prime Minister’s Questions, and the deferral of further parliamentary consideration of the protocol bill, and the EU’s recognition that progress is possible."