Ireland's prime minister, Leo Varadkar, says UK and the European Union are close to having a new deal on the post-Brexit dispute over Northern Ireland. He told reporters that an agreement could be reached within days, confirming the speculation that a breakthrough was imminent.
The UK and EU have been at odds over Northern Ireland. When Brexit happened, both sides agreed not to allow customs posts and other checks on the Irish border, as an open border is a key pillar of the Northern Ireland peace process. Under the agreement, some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK are checked. This has infuriated unionist politicians, who insist that the new trade border undermines Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom.
Northern Ireland's power-sharing government has been dysfunctional since the Democratic Unionist Party left it a year ago in protest. The party insisted that the protocol should be repealed or substantially amended.
