Speaking of Ireland
www.rte.ie/news/2021/0309/1203027-coveney-congree-brexit/
The 'Friends of Ireland' caucus, a bipartisan group on Capitol Hill, will receive the briefing today
By Brian O'Donovan
Washington Correspondent
Members of the US Congress are to receive a briefing today on the latest Brexit developments from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič.
The 'Friends of Ireland' caucus, a bipartisan group on Capitol Hill, will receive the briefing amid concerns in Washington over last week's decision by the UK government to unilaterally change the way the Northern Ireland Protocol is being implemented.
Mr Šefčovič will be on the call in his capacity as the European Union's co-chair of the Joint Committee, which oversees the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Last week, the UK government announced the extension of the grace period for post-Brexit supermarket agri-food movements from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland.
The EU said it was a potential breach of international law and contrary to the good faith provision of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
The European Commission is expected to take legal action against the UK in the coming days.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked about the situation last week and said that US President Joe Biden's support for the Good Friday Agreement remained "unequivocal".
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will meet virtually with Mr Biden next week for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations.
and
www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2021/0309/1203033-northern-ireland-protocol/
EU set to begin legal action against UK over Northern Ireland Protocol
Updated / Wednesday, 10 Mar 2021 06:14
The UK announced an extension of the protocol's grace periods
By Tony Connelly
Europe Editor
The European Commission is expected to take legal action against the United Kingdom in the coming days over its unilateral move on implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The commission is set to issue a letter of formal notice, triggering infringement proceedings against the UK, followed by a second letter to the EU-UK Joint Committee, which will effectively trigger the dispute settlement mechanism within the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.
Last December, the EU and UK negotiated a series of grace periods that have limited the full impact of the protocol.
Both sides were in negotiations in recent weeks through the Joint Committee, which implements the Withdrawal Agreement, about a possible extension to the grace periods.
However, last week Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis announced the UK would go ahead itself and extend the grace periods.
Yesterday, the EU's representative on the Joint Committee, European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, outlined to member states the legal options.
It is understood those options could be triggered this week.
There would be a letter of formal notice accusing the UK of being in breach of EU law because it had overridden the protocol.
London would have several weeks to respond and the issue could end up in the European Court of Justice.
A second letter would be addressed to the Joint Committee under Articles 167 and 169 of the Withdrawal Treaty.
Those articles require both sides to consult each other in good faith when implementing the treaty.
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By sending the letter, the EU would effectively trigger the treaty's dispute settlement mechanism.
It is understood that Mr Šefčovič told EU ambassadors that disputes with the UK could be the order of the day in the coming months.
However, it is believed that when he held his second phone call with David Frost - his UK opposite number - on Sunday night, it was a more cordial conversation than the one held in the immediate aftermath of last week's announcement.
and
www.rte.ie/news/us/2021/0310/1203044-sinn-fein-us-adverts/
Sinn Féin places adverts in US newspapers calling for united Ireland
Updated / Wednesday, 10 Mar 2021 08:05
Mary Lou McDonald said Irish America had been central to the signing and safeguarding of the Good Friday Agreement
By Brian O'Donovan
Washington Correspondent
Sinn Féin has taken out adverts in a number of US newspapers calling for the Irish Government to prepare and plan for a united Ireland.
The half-page adverts are appearing in the Washington Post and the New York Times, with full page colour advertisements in the Irish-American newspapers, the Irish Voice and the Irish Echo.
The ads also call for a date to be set for a referendum on a united Ireland.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that Irish America had been central to the signing and safeguarding of the Good Friday Agreement.
"The central principle of the Agreement is the right of the people to determine their constitutional future. A unity referendum is the measure of that right and an essential commitment of the Agreement," she said.
The united Ireland advert has been endorsed by a number of Irish American groups including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Brehon Law Society and the Irish American Unity Conference.