simon coveney also said there would _ northern ireland. northern ireland. simon coveney also said there would be a consequence i northern ireland. simon coveney also said there would be a consequence if| said there would be a consequence if the uk's action created uncertainty on the island of ireland, so if there is a plan to ditch parts of there is a plan to ditch parts of the protocol, could there be a trade war between the eu and the uk? we think war between the eu and the uk? - think it would be completely self—defeating if they went into a trade war but that is up to them. what i'm concerned about is a british minister is the political stability of northern ireland and that's what i'm working with colleagues in cabinet to preserve and if we feel, as we are inclined to, that the protocol is undermining political stability in northern ireland it is absolutely our duty to look at it again and see what we can do to change it. in a look at it again and see what we can do to change it— do to change it. in a statement this afternoon the _ do

simon coveney saying this vote does not mean that there is a mandate for a referendum for a border poll's a hugely welcome comment from a unionist perspective. simon coveney is seen as a interviewing pro—nationalist quite strident minister in the irish government. of course the non—sinn fein parties are trying to get or stem be sinn fein votes. that's a very welcome thing. as i said, the active vote for sinn fein is still relatively small. it's very splintered here, and the prospect of a border poll is a long way off. we cannot get away from the fact that 60% of people do not vote for parties, approaching overwhelming majority do not vote for parties that consider the unification of ireland their main goal. unification of ireland their main coal. ., unification of ireland their main oal, ., ., , unification of ireland their main oal, ., ., , ., ., unification of ireland their main oal. ., ., ., ., goal. that has a lot of the headlines. _ goal. that has a lot of the headlines. the _ goal. that has a lot of the headlines. the more - goal. that has a lot of the - headlines. the more immedi

ireland's foreign minister — simon coveney — warned that course of action would be deeply harmful.s main parties. from belfast, sara girvin reports. tomorrow borisjohnson will hold private meetings with political leaders in an attempt to break the dormant stalemate. on friday the dup blocked the election of a new assembly speaker in protest at the northern ireland protocol, meaning this place can't function. there is increasing speculation that the uk government is poised to introduce legislation to strip away parts of the protocol, but the irish foreign minister says that isn't the right approach. what i see at the moment is a british government making statements, briefing against the eu and creating a lot of tension in my country, your closest neighbour, and also potentially being on the verge of making a decision that can fundamentally undermine the function of the institutions of the peace process in northern ireland. simon coveney also said there would be a consequence if the uk's action created uncertainty on the island of ireland, so if there is a plan to ditch parts of the

in the last few minutes, some interesting lines from the irish foreign minister simon coveney who said emerged for the first time as the largest party, simon coveney speaking in dublin says he does not think that brings a referendum on a united ireland closer. that is a pretty significant comment from the dublin government. he also said the partnership from britain, ratherthan he also said the partnership from britain, rather than threats, he also said the partnership from britain, ratherthan threats, is required to bring about a solution to the issues around the northern ireland protocol. those are the post—brexit trade arrangements governing northern ireland and the democratic unionist party, which is the second—largest party at stormont, as we have been explaining over the last few days, it does not like the protocol because it thinks that it undermines northern ireland's place within the uk. let us talk about the many issues. i'm joined by louise cullen, a correspondent for bbc northern ireland. 0na on a practical level, what is going to happen over the next week? tomorrow should h

ijust wonder, i want to get some reaction from you to what simon coveney the irish foreign minister haste doesn't mean that a referendum on irish unity, the question of irish unity, is any closer. do you think that will be reassuring to unionists? i that will be reassuring to unionists?— that will be reassuring to unionists? . , ~ ., unionists? i actually think that the loner the unionists? i actually think that the longer they stay — unionists? i actually think that the longer they stay out _ unionists? i actually think that the longer they stay out of _ unionists? i actually think that the longer they stay out of the - longer they stay out of the power—sharing arrangement, the less secure the constitutional position becomes. if people are seeing that the local government doesn't work and that the power—sharing government, there is an inability to make it work, then they look elsewhere. they don't look to westminster, only yesterday nigel dodds and gordon lyons from the dup were saying westminster doesn't care about us and there's plenty of evidence to say that that's the case, so what

simon coveney also said there would be a consequence if the uk's action created uncertainty on the island the uk? we think it would be completely self—defeating if they went into a trade war but that is up to them. what i'm concerned about is a british minister is the political stability of northern ireland and that's what i'm working with colleagues in cabinet to preserve and if we feel, as we are inclined to, that the protocol is undermining political stability in northern ireland it is absolutely our duty to look at it again and see what we can do to change it. in a statement this afternoon the leader of the dup sirjeffrey donaldson said his party wants action and not words on the protocol, but yesterday sinn fein said the protocol is here to stay. so with our political parties so far apart, can a visit from the prime minister end the stalemate at stormont? sara girvin, bbc newsline, stormont. let's get some analysis on this now. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. lebanese officials say voter turnout was just a1% in the country's parliamentary election. it is the

ireland's foreign minister, simon coveney, warned that course of action would be deeply harmful.ay to hold talks with northern ireland's main parties. a former president of somalia, hassan sheikh mohamud, has been re—elected to office after three rounds of voting by parliamentarians. he defeated the incumbent, mohamed abdullahi farmajo, who he also faced in the final round of the last election in 2017. state media in north korea have reported eight new deaths from fever—like symptoms as it deals with a covid outbreak. nearly 400,000 more cases of people with similar symptoms were also reported. the state news agency is also reporting that kim—jong—un has ordered the military to help stabilise the supply of medicines in pyongyang. the report said he led an emergency politburo meeting, north korea has little access to vaccines or testing, and has one of the worst healthcare systems in the world. mason richey is an associate professor of international politics at hankuk university of foreign studies in south korea, and has been monitoring the covid situation in the north. he says py

simon coveney added that there was a need to address unionist concerns about the operation of post—brexit it hopes to be able to host the eurovision song contest next year after the country's emotional triumph in last night's final in italy. their entry, the kalush orchestra, flew to the top of the leaderboard after winning the popular vote. sam ryder, of the uk, finished second but topped the jury votes with his song space man. our correspondent, mark lowen, sent this report from turin. in the end they had it all, the sound, the sympathy, the success. ukraine's kalush orchestra went into eurovision as the favourite with a folk and hip pop at them to the lead singer's mother and now to their motherland now under attack, one member staying home to fight. it so almost went the uk's way, sam ryder�*s space man hoping to take his country to the galaxy are winners for the first time in 25 years. 183 points. he did so well. there it is. as the public votes went in he was brought down to earth and ukraine's star shone bright. cheering all the way to kyiv where the winning song warmed hearts brok

ireland's foreign minister — simon coveney — warned that course of action would be deeply harmful.ce after three rounds of voting by parliamentarians. he defeated the incumbent, mohamed abdullahi farmajo, who he also faced in the final round of the last election in 2017. supporters greeted the result by cheering and firing guns in the air around the capital mogadishu. voting was conducted in a heavily—guarded aircraft hangar at the international airport. the controversial american preacher franklin graham has held an event attended by thousands of people in liverpool at the start of a uk tour. before the pandemic, british venues cancelled his appearances when rights groups protested he was politically extreme, islamophobic and homophobic. our religion editor aleem maqbool reports. for one night, the us evangelical mega—church experience came to liverpool. thousands wanted to see one of the most famous, some would say notorious, american preachers, franklin graham. he's the son of the late billy graham, who toured the uk for decades and filled stadia like anfield. have you ever thou

but the irish foreign minister, simon coveney, says the uk knew what it was signing up to.been trying to show flexibility for the last 12 months now, but it's never enough for the british government, at least so far. we spoke for a0 minutes last night after he spoke to secretary liz truss yesterday, and again we were talking about how to accommodate legitimate concerns within the unionist community within northern ireland. today undoubtedly puts more pressure on the uk government and the eu, because the dup you say you can't have a functioning stormont and the northern ireland protocol. charlotte gallagher, bbc news, belfast. let's get more from our ireland correspondent, chris page. what's the solution to this deadlock? at various times in the past, when critical crises here at stormont have reached a crunch point, something unexpected has happened which has rescued everything, brought people back from the brink and provided a breakthrough. i really don't think this will be one of those occasions. the democratic unionist party is insistent it will stick to its position tha

ireland's foreign minister — simon coveney — warned that course of action would be deeply harmful.ties. sport and for a full round—up, from the bbc sport centre, here's karthi. hello and thanks forjoining us. the premier league has been fascinating all season and west ham have made sure that it will remain interesting after their 2—2 draw with manchester city. city still have the fortunes of a sixth premier league title in their own hands but two first half goals from jared bowen gave west ham a 2—0 lead over the league leaders. jack grealish gave city hope with a deflected volley goaljust after the break before an own goal for vladimir coufal levelled the score at 2—2. but a late penalty miss from riyad mahrez meant manchester city missed the chance to take all three points. a city win on the final day of the season against aston villa guarantees they would finish as champions regardless of liverpool's results. both have done an incredible season in the premier league and yes, we are lucky to have a home game to decide it, so we don't have to look for anything else, we just go the

i am seeing the irish foreign minister simon coveney later this week to have further discussions withocol does need to change. so ireland and the fact the protocol does need to change.— ireland and the fact the protocol does need to change. so much for caettin does need to change. so much for getting brexit _ does need to change. so much for getting brexit done, _ does need to change. so much for getting brexit done, so _ does need to change. so much for getting brexit done, so much i does need to change. so much for getting brexit done, so much for i getting brexit done, so much for other and ready. what is the cost of the proposed actions? the treasury has drawn up economic impact assessments for this course of action. when will the government released them for the house? the solution we are putting forward will save costs by reducing the bureaucracy that traders are currently facing shipping goods into northern ireland. flii" currently facing shipping goods into northern ireland.— northern ireland. our overall ro osal northern ireland. our overall proposal benefits _ northern irela

, we will see the likes of brandon lewis, . will see the likes of brandon lewis, possibly also simon coveneyy players here, in order to see what wriggle room they have got. also, the british government putting pressure on the eu to try to adopt a more flexible approach to the protocol, all of that it is easy to see how they can start sending out those feeders, but quite often they will actually resolve matters, that is another question. you will actually resolve matters, that is another question.— will actually resolve matters, that is another question. you and i have watched a lot _ is another question. you and i have watched a lot of _ is another question. you and i have watched a lot of torx _ is another question. you and i have l watched a lot of torx processes over the years, what is your hunch, best guess about whether we are talking about a relatively speedy return or six months or longer before we get a power—sharing executive restored prime minister's questions i think we are probably talking about months, as part of the dealer got the place up and running after the last logjam that

dup and borisjohnson once a significant changes to the protocol, but the irish foreign minister, simon coveneyning up to. i think the eu has been trying to show flexibility for the last 12 months, but it's never enough for the british government, at least so far. and after speaking to one minister who had spoken to liz truss yesterday, and again, we were talking about how to accommodate legitimate concerns within the unionist community in northern ireland. today, and puts more pressure on the uk government and the eu because the dup say you can't have a functioning stormont and the northern ireland protocol. borisjohnson is expected to travel to northern ireland on monday to meet party leaders at stormont. let's hear from a couple of party leaders. the sinn fein stormont leaders. the sinn fein stormont leader michelle o'neill says that the dp has punished the electorate today. a warning that this clip contains some flashing emerges. you might be elected us to turn up your own day one foot of the rest of the parties have turned up to do business today but regrettably, the dup have chosen not an

ireland's foreign minister, simon coveney, has urged the uk to work with the eu to resolve the row andnst unilateral action. let's remind ourselves about what the northern ireland protocol actually is. when the uk left the eu, it was agreed that goods arriving in northern ireland from the rest of the uk would be monitored to make sure they met eu standards — that's because northern ireland shares a land border with eu member, the republic of ireland, and an open border is seen as an essential part of the peace process. i asked our chief political correspondent, adam fleming, how far the foreign secretary liz truss will go in the house of commons later this afternoon. the foreign secretary may go less than far today than some people expected, and some briefings to newspapers over the last few days kind of hinted at because i think what she is going to do is state the government �*s existing position, which is that they want to get changes to the protocol through negotiations with the eu, so that process is going to continue. but she will give more clarity about what the prime minister c

ireland's foreign minister, simon coveney, has urged the uk to work with the eu to resolve the row, andd against unilateral action. let's remind ourselves about what the northern ireland protocol actually is. when the uk left the eu, it was agreed that goods arriving in northern ireland from the rest of the uk would be monitored to make sure they met eu standards — that's because northern ireland shares a land border with eu member, the republic of ireland, and an open border is seen as an essential part of the peace process. we can get more now from our chief political correspondent adam fleming. hello, adam. so, a warning from the republic of ireland that the uk should not take unilateral action on the protocol yet. the government has suggested that it might do that. so, how far is liz truss going to go today in what she says to parliament?— today in what she says to parliament? ,., ., ., parliament? good morning. the forei . n parliament? good morning. the foreign secretary _ parliament? good morning. the foreign secretary may - parliament? good morning. the foreign secretary may go

speaking in belfast, ireland's minister for foreign affairs, simon coveney, said britain appeared toin relation to brexit and the protocol, and northern ireland, is through partnership, compromise, and through working these issues out together, in a way that both sides can move on. that is what we want to do. of course, those issues are also been part of getting devolved institutions up and running in northern ireland as well, to make it even more complicated. but i think the briefing that we have seen in the british media, coming from secretary truss and others, has gone down really badly across the european union. they believe that the commission has been showing a willingness to compromise, once ongoing technical discussion to try to work out solutions and common ground, and what they are hearing and seeing from london is a rejection of that approach, towards a breach of international law. and setting aside elements of a treaty that the british government was central to putting in place with the eu. so, that hasn't gone down well, and i hope that the decision—makers in westminster

dup and borisjohnson want significant changes to the protocol, but the irish foreign minister, simon coveneyhat it was signing up to. i think the eu has been trying to show flexibility for the last 12 months now, but it's never enough for the british government — at least, so far. maros sefcovic and i spoke to him for a0 minutes last night — after he spoke to secretary liz truss yesterday — and, again, we were talking about how to accommodate legitimate concerns within the unionist community in northern ireland. today undoubtedly puts more pressure on the uk government and the eu, because the dup say you can't have a functioning stormont and the northern ireland protocol. charlotte gallagher, bbc news, belfast. let's get more from our ireland correspondent, chris page. he spent the morning at stormont. at various times in the past, when critical crises here at stormont have reached a crunch point, something unexpected has happened that has rescued everything, brought people back from the brink and provided a breakthrough. i really don't think this will be one of those occasions. the democrat