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.

And I'm Colom Ongoing, RTE's Deputy Foreign Editor in Dublin. Each week, Brexit

Republic brings you all the latest developments in Dublin, Brussels and London. A new season of Brexit

Republic, a new monarch, a new Prime Minister. Does that mean a reset in the tortured EU-UK relationship

over the Northern Ireland Protocol? We look back over a heady, historic and epoch ending couple of weeks following the death of Queen Elizabeth,

the coronation of Liz Truss and her meetings with the Taoiseach, President Joe Biden and the Commission President Ursula Fonderland.

We look at the prospects for fresh negotiations on the protocol getting underway, whether the new mood of optimism is well placed,

and what the landing zone might be.

And with Liz Truss having championed the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, we'll assess whether any

breakthrough can happen without one side or the other being badly betrayed.

But first, Tony, I suppose it has been July since our last podcast, not meaning to make this sound like confession.

What sinning has been going on since then?

Well, I suppose we should trace it back to the sins of Chris Pinscher, that Tory MP who allegedly sexually assaulted two men at a party.

Boris Johnson then came under pressure because he essentially

...