The problems of the Northern Ireland Protocol “must be resolved by the autumn”

The UK government wants issues relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol to be resolved by the autumn “one way or another,” its lead Brexit negotiator said.

Lord Frost called the current negotiations with the EU on the protocol “constructive”.

However, he told MPs from the House of Commons EU Control Commission that “the gaps between them remain significant.”

He said they were doing everything to “fill in the gaps” on the Brexit deal preventing a tough Irish border.

The Protocol is the Brexit deal that prevents a hard border with Ireland by keeping Northern Ireland within the EU single market for goods.

This also creates a new trade border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, something the EU accepts is causing difficulties for many businesses.

Unionist politicians say the deal undermines Northern Ireland’s place in the UK.

Lord Frost warned that if the current negotiations with the EU do not reach a “sensible solution”, then activating Article 16 will be the alternative.

But he refused to be drawn on what other measures the government might take besides triggering it if it fails to resolve the current difficulties.

Article 16 of the Protocol sets out the process for adopting unilateral “safeguard” measures if the EU or the UK conclude that the deal is causing serious problems.

Lord Frost said it was a “strong power” designed to stabilize the situation and deal with the “harmful consequences”, but remained confident that negotiations would be enough to find a solution.

“I don’t think any government excludes anything when it comes to the territorial integrity of the country, which is what it is,” he told lawmakers.

Lord Frost also insisted that the Northern Ireland Protocol is “compatible” with the Act of Union which he said the government made clear in recent legal discussions in court.

The London and Brussels negotiators were stuck in talks for more than a week after the EU published its proposals to break the deadlock on the protocol.

The EU has suggested a reform package that would reduce the practical impacts of the protocol.

The UK wants a more fundamental change, including the removal of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from its oversight role in the agreement.

Lord Frost welcomed some of the EU’s proposals, which he said he recognized that Brussels was ready to change its laws to address a problem.

But he said the problem is that the proposals “don’t go far enough”.

MPs questioned Lord Frost about the role of the Court of Justice in any future disputes.

Lord Frost said: “We cannot let the Courts of Justice resolve disputes between us over the protocol.”