UK ‘tough guy’ act on Northern Ireland will end in disaster, says Irish minister

European Affairs minister says UK government is out of step with preserving peace with protocol threats

Ireland's minister for European Affairs has said that a tough guy approach" when it comes to Northern Ireland will lead to disaster, adding that threats to suspend the Northern Ireland protocol represented the first time the UK government has been out of step with the international consensus on preserving peace and stability in Northern Ireland in 25 years.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Thomas Byrne said there was a serious danger of complete instability in Northern Ireland" if the UK government continues its tough guy approach" through threats to trigger article 16, which would suspend post-Brexit trade arrangements.