WESTMINSTER "threats" to suspend Northern Ireland border rules are "not helpful" when the problems are down to Brexit, a leading Irish politician has said.

Mairead McCuinness has rejected UK criticism of the Northern Ireland Protocol after Westminster called for major changes.

EU withdrawal took effect only seven months ago and during that time several problems have emerged, including over the distribution and licensing of medicines to Northern Ireland.

UK Brexit Minister Lord Frost has said a "real negotiation" must take place if the Westminster is not to unilaterally invoke Article 16 and suspend the protocol agreed by Boris Johnson to avoid a return to a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

On a visit to London, McGuinness, the European Commissioner for Financial Services, said solutions can be found.

And she told The Andrew Marr Show: "Threats are not helpful and I think Article 16 is used in very extreme circumstances."

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On a visit to London, McGuinness told Ireland's RTE News that the protocol will not be renegotiated. However, she said Europe will put forwards "a considerable package" to address issues around the protocol "within a few weeks time". 

She went on: "I would really stress that the effort in Brussels, led by [EC vice-president] Maros Šefcovic to find practical solutions and to bring our member states with us on this is immense, and I believe we will deliver on that in finding solutions."

Speaking to Marr, McGuinness said the "voice of Northern Ireland... has not been heard sufficiently" but insisted the European Union has "listened carefully".

She went on: "We are all duty-bound to find solutions to the problems facing people and communities in Northern Ireland in relation to Brexit.

"The problem is Brexit, the protocol is the solution and the difficulties in its implementation can be resolved, but they can't be resolved if the atmosphere is not friendly."

McGuinness continued: "Brexit has fragmented relationships but we are duty-bound to get over that and work together to find solutions. Indeed, the UK could come forward with proposals for example on animal and plant health.

"We're not in the mood of saying 'no, we're not doing anything', we've said the opposite. We're going to put forward concrete proposals, having listened to people in Northern Ireland, and I hope that the United Kingdom Government and Lord Frost will believe with sincerity what we are saying."

Highlighting global challenges on energy and other matters, she said: "We need to work together, we don't need to keep this divisive atmosphere because Northern Ireland will suffer and I think that would be reprehensible."