Taoiseach Micheál Martin says legislation that has been published on the Northern Ireland Protocol "would effectively be very damaging to the NI economy".

Quite the admission on the @Policy_Exchange’s Brexit panel. The protocol is being attacked not because it doesn’t work, but because it DOES - strengthening north-south economic links. And the urgency to dismantle it flows from the speed with which business is adjusting to it.

European Commission Maros Sefcovic has told @michaelgove that sweeping changes to the Protocol will not be possible, and that any flexibilities require the UK for its part to implement the terms of last December's NI Protocol.

EU will have an office in Northern Ireland from Jan 1, source confirms. / A British cave after months of insisting no EU feet on the ground.

"It’s for UK Parl to legislate as it sees fit. But understand, if UK passes law designed to break International Law, WI & Protocol, then there will be no trade deal. EU cannot ratify a new deal while U.K. is legislating to break a previous agreement. Trust & Good Faith Matters."

Lots of requests for a step-by-step explanation of Johnson's plans to breach Protocol on Irish border. / No problem. And by the end, you'll understand why this man is totally unfit to hold public office.

UK proposals for implementing Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland deserve detailed scrutiny. No doubt the Commission will soon oblige! Below = some first thoughts from me (moving from the general to the specific) pending more critical reading & cross-checking ...