Irish PM says unclear if Northern Ireland protocol deal possible by April

DUBLIN – It is unclear if Britain and the European Union can reach a deal on tweaking post-Brexit trade rules for Northern Ireland in time for the mid-April anniversary of the region’s 1998 peace deal, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday.

“I think we would all love to see a resolution before the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement or … before St Patrick’s Day (March 17), but I can’t say if that is possible at this stage,” Varadkar told parliament.

“In terms of the timeline for an agreement, there is no definite timeline, there is no deadline,” he said.