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. Hello and 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 weekly podcast on Brexit.

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

And I'm Cullam O Monggown, RTE's Deputy Foreign Editor here in Dublin.

Each week,

Brexit Republic brings you all the latest developments from London, Brussels and Dublin. This week, none other than Michel Barnier himself talks to Brexit Republic about what it was like to be the EU's

chief negotiator for four years throughout those dark days of the backstop and the hard road to the deal before Christmas.

Mr Barnier responds to the wailing and gnashing of teeth by UK exporters, fishermen and food producers

who are drowning under Brexit red tape by pointing out that in actual fact, Brexit means Brexit.

And we'll hear his take on this week's row about the UK's refusal to grant the EU delegation

in London full diplomatic status. You will not be

allowed to spoil us, Ambassador, for those who

recall the Ferreira Russia ads in the 1990s. Or was it

the 1980s? I can't remember. Maybe it was both. It seems a long

time ago. Tony, you tracked down your white whale, so to speak.

Yeah. It took a while, although I have been doorsteps along the way. Yeah, we did get one or two interviews with the great man himself during the past four years. But he was awarded the European of the year award by the European

...