The Northern Executive, including all its Ministers, is legally obliged to comply with the commitments set out in the withdrawal agreement and the protocol. Yet, yesterday evening we witnessed a reckless stunt on the part of the DUP. A Minister who is no stranger to political chaos stated that he had instructed his Department to stop all checks on goods at ports. This is a cynical attempt by Edwin Poots to shore up his own political position and that of his party as we face into an assembly election in a number of weeks. Has the Government raised this issue with the British Government and made it clear that this is in breach of an international agreement?

Given the seriousness of the matter, has the Taoiseach spoken with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson about it?

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As I said in the Seanad last night, the Irish Government's position on this is very clear. The British Government has signed an international agreement, which includes the protocol on Northern Ireland, as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. That is now international law and the British Government has an obligation to act in a way that is consistent with international law.

Last night, the Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Mr. Edwin Poots, said he would instruct his officials to stop sanitary and phytosanitary checks in ports in Northern Ireland on goods coming across the Irish Sea. We do not regard that as consistent with the obligations the United Kingdom has under the protocol. My understanding is checks are continuing today while senior officials are trying to get legal clarity on the matter. I was in contact with the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last night and I have been in contact, at length, with the Vice President of the European Commission, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, on the matter this morning.