NI Protocol: Coveney hopes for breakthrough before election

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has said he is hoping for a breakthrough on some of the contentious issues around the Northern Ireland Protocol in the next two weeks.

But he stressed that it would not be possible to agree a deal on all the outstanding issues before the 28 October deadline after which Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris will be legally obliged to call a Stormont election.

Mr Coveney was speaking after meeting four of the five main parties in Belfast on Wednesday.

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