Ahead of a key week in the Brexit process, Fine Gael TD, Neale Richmond, has called on the British Government to stand up and meet their responsibilities after a testing fortnight in EU-U.K.

relations. Deputy Richmond said: “This has been an extremely difficult fortnight, one of the most, if not the most, difficult periods in the entire Brexit process. “The decision of the British Government to state an intention to breach the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and as such break international law through the Internal Market Bill was a terrible one with clear ramifications. “The reaction of the EU, key American lawmakers, British lawyers and British politicians of all parties including all living former Prime Ministers highlighted the severity and foolishness of the move.” The former Chairman of the Seanad’s Brexit Committee went on to say: “Reported compromises between the British Government and rebel MPs are insufficient; once again highlighting the misunderstanding in Westminster that Brexit is solely an internal matter. The British Government’s focus should be on their counterparts in the EU. “There is scope for a deal on a future trading relationship between the EU and the U.K. but this requires the British Government to negotiate based on the agreed terms of the political declaration as well as meeting the clear responsibilities of the Withdrawal Agreement’s Northern Irish protocol. “It took months of tortuous negotiation to agree a compromise that led to this protocol, a protocol that is vital to protecting the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement and in turn the fragile peace on this island. “Trying to reopen negotiations on an agreed matter, protected by an international treaty, at this late stage is baffling. The focus of the British Government’s energy needs to be on agreeing a future relationship. “Michel Barnier and his negotiating team wait patiently for the British Government to address these matters seriously. However, the British Government must first stand up and meet their responsibilities,” Deputy Richmond concluded. ENDS The post Brexit responsibilities must be met – Richmond appeared first on Fine Gael.