In all areas, the UK continues to backtrack.

The European Union argues that we should be subject to rules of the club that we have left.

The precondition is the level playing field.

We can deliver a real Brexit that achieves our objectives.

But if there is not a deal, we still need the Irish protocol or the Northern Irish protocol fully implemented.

I'm going to miss being the pantomime villain. protocol or the Northern Irish protocol fully implemented.

I'm going to miss being the pantomime villain.

Hello and welcome to Brexit Republic, RTE's podcast on Brexit.

I'm Tony Connolly, RTE's Europe editor in Brussels.

I'm Sean Whelan, RTE's correspondent in London.

And I'm Colom O'Mongown, RTE's Deputy Foreign Editor in Dublin. Each week, Brexit Republic assesses all the latest Brexit developments in Brussels, London and in

Dublin.

This week, the Northern Ireland Protocol has been pooled in several directions at once.

On Monday, the House of Commons Petitions Committee heard why it should be scrapped.

While on Wednesday, the British Government and the European Commission declared it should be fully implemented.

As the expiry date for one of the Protocol Grace Period's approaches,

we'll unpack the latest politics behind the Irish Sea border.

And we look at why the EU is considering a reset in relations with London, could smiles and handshakes at the end of April make all the unpleasantness of the past two months go away. And we'll hear from Marashevkovich, the EU's co-chair on the Joint Committee, about the fixes and flexibilities that could make Northern Ireland grow to accept the protocol.

But first, Sean, let's have a look at what was going on over in your neck of the woods

and the DUP came out unhappy from Westminster during the week.

Well, they went into the week unhappy as well.

And we all know why it's the ongoing problems over the implementation of the Northern Ireland

...