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Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said that “mistakes” were made in the post-Brexit negotiations between the Republic of Ireland, the UK, and Europe.

The Northern Ireland Protocol, which has put a trade border between the nation and the rest of the UK, has led to a collapse in powersharing at Stormont.

Mr Varadkar – who returned as the head of the Irish government at the end of last year – has said the protocol is “too strict”. 

He was part of the 11th-hour negotiations with Boris Johnson which saw the protocol agreed in 2019. 

Mr Varadkar said: “I’m sure we’ve all made mistakes in the handling of Brexit.

“There was no road map, no manual, it wasn’t something that we expected would happen and we’ve all done our best to deal with it.

“Again, I look forward to travelling to Northern Ireland early in the new year, meeting with all the parties, and reaching out to all parties and all communities in an effort to find a solution.”

He added: “One thing I have said in the past is that, when we designed the protocol, when it was originally negotiated, perhaps it was a little bit too strict.

“And we’ve seen that the protocol has worked without it being fully enforced.

“And that’s why I think there is room for flexibility and room for changes and we’re open to that and up for that, and I know from speaking to [European Commission] President [Ursula] von der Leyen and [EC vice president] Maros Sefcovic, that’s their position too.

“So, we are willing to show flexibility and to make compromises. We do want there to be an agreement.”

Negotiations are currently under way to find a solution to the concerns raised about the Protocol, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this year.