Tensions have flared up over the Northern Ireland Protocol that was part of the Brexit agreement.
The Northern Ireland Protocol — part of the UK’s Withdrawal Agreement — was created to ensure there is no hard border on the island of Ireland and therefore preserve the Good Friday Agreement of the late 1990s. The protocol pushes the border between Ireland the UK out to the Irish Sea, leaving Northern Ireland to abide by some EU rules. This requires customs declarations on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain, including checks on some products. For example, supermarkets would be required to produce export health certificates for all shipments of animal products since Northern Ireland is part of the EU’s single market. A grace period on the additional requirements was due to expire at the end of March, but businesses in Northern Ireland have been calling for an extension to the grace period to avoid the extra bureaucracy.
Yesterday, the UK announced a unilateral decision to continue the grace periods until October. The EU angrily objected to the move and has threatened to resort to legal action. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland loyalists who support continued UK rule have threatened to protest the agreement altogether. (Guardian article: “Brexit: loyalist paramilitary groups renounce Good Friday agreement“)
The grey weather continues. I complete my next CMA lesson, have some leftover stir fry for lunch, then get out for a short walk to Iveagh Gardens. The Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is located in a modern building across the street from the southern end of the park; no further word on my job application yet. Meanwhile, a follow up interview with OCCRP is scheduled for next Monday.
Iveagh Gardens and the SFI building in the background:
I spot a few robins that I identify by their distinctive orange breast:
Until next time….
