The final outstanding issues in talks on a trade deal between Britain and the European Union are proving "very, very difficult", Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney told parliament on Thursday.
"The outstanding issues around fair competition and fisheries, and indeed governance in relation to the level-playing-field issue, are proving very, very difficult issues to make progress on, if the truth be told," Coveney said.
But the incentive to get a deal was also 'very, very strong' given how enormously disruptive the lapsing of Britain EU transition period without a deal would be, he said.
EU and UK officials were in last-minute talks to avoid a potential two-way ban on exports of a wide range of food items between Great Britain and Ireland, RTÉ.ie reported earlier this week.
