Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said there are no changes to the text of the withdrawal agreement or the Irish protocol in the deal agreed between British prime minister Theresa May and EU President Jean Claude Juncker. He said it has never been the goal of the EU, or of Ireland for that matter, to trap the UK in a backstop indefinitely. Mr Coveney, speaking in the Dáil during leaders’ questions, said Ireland will not be the obstacle to granting more time, should it be necessary, and if there is a plan to try to finalise arrangements during that period. That being said, from an Irish perspective the text and content of the withdrawal agreement have not changed. “It is clear from the text agreed last night that the withdrawal agreement itself is not being changed.

Source: Irish Examiner March 13, 2019 05:48 UTC