Taoiseach MichealMartinTD is to meet Northern Ireland's five main political parties in Belfast later
In what is likely be one of his last visits to Belfast as taoiseach, Mr Martin will hold meetings with each of the five main political parties.
As part of the coalition agreement with Fine Gael, he is due to switch positions with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar in December.positive "mood music" coming from the most recent protocol talksBut DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, warned that without decisive action from Brussels and Dublin, the Northern Ireland Protocol would continue to erode the foundations of Stormont.
"Brussels must loosen the guide ropes for their negotiating team so a proper renegotiation can take place," said Sir Jeffrey, speaking ahead of his meeting with Mr Martin. The protocol was agreed between the UK government and the European Union in 2019 in a bid to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit.
However, unionist parties oppose it, saying it is damaging trade in Northern Ireland and undermining its position within the UK.Sinn Féin described his comments as a nonsensical, bizarre, fantasy attack.
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