IRELAND'S Justice Minister has called on Downing Street to withdraw the internal market plans she says have "damaged trust" over Brexit and put talks "in a very difficult space".
Last week Downing Street accused the Scottish Government of "undermining" Brexit trade talks.
Now Helen McEntee has said Boris Johnson's administration has "set us back" with the controversial Internal Market Bill which ministers admit will breach international law in a "specific and limited way".
Appearing on Sky News, McEntee said that has "caused a lot of confusion", adding: "This week one side of the agreement has essentially decided to unilaterally, on its own, change elements of that agreement.
"It's caused, I think, some confusion, or a lot of confusion.
"It has, in some way, damaged trust between both sides.
"It's very difficult to see how you can negotiate a free trade agreement when what has already been agreed is being proposed to be breached less than nine months later.
"We're in a very difficult space.
"What I would like to see, and I think the Irish Government with the European Union would like to see, is that these particular measures as contained in the Internal Market Bill, that they are withdrawn."
Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee has told @RidgeOnSunday that Boris Johnson's Brexit plan has "damaged trust" and set back talks on a trade deal with the EU.
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) September 13, 2020
More on this story here: https://t.co/cwLdtJEzoL pic.twitter.com/0u3yGsoqik
WATCH: Tory Justice Secretary says he'll only quit if UK breaks law in 'unacceptable way'
The legislation, which overrides part of the agreements made so far, will be debated at Westminster this week.
Brussels has said it may take legal action over the matter, but Johnson says the government is acting to provent an "economic barrier down the Irish Sea".
Defending the PM's plan, UK Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the government is acting "to prepare for the worst".
He said: "I can reassure the Irish government, I can reassure all friends in Europe, that all we're seeking to do is prepare the ground domestically if things are not resolved."
He subsequently told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that he will resign if the rule of law is "being broken in a way I find unacceptable", adding: "I don't believe we're going to get to that stage."
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