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Speaking at the Foreign Office in London following a
British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, Coveney said serious
gaps remained between the two sides on the Northern Ireland
protocol.
"There hasn't been a breakthrough moment in the last number of
weeks, but I think there has been a deeper understanding of each
other's positions," he said.
"Do I think that all issues can be resolved linked to the
protocol by the end of the year? I think that's a very tall
order and unlikely to happen."
Britain left the EU last year, but has since put off
implementing some of the border checks between its province of
Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom that the
bloc says London is obliged to apply under their divorce deal.
London says the checks are disproportionate and are heightening
tensions in Northern Ireland, putting a 1998 peace deal at risk.
It has said it could trigger Article 16, an emergency brake on
the agreement.
Following months of increased rhetoric, Britain and the EU
agreed last month to intensify efforts to solve the problem.
Britain's minister for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, said at
the same event that London would rather find a solution to the
issues but could take unilateral action if needed.
(Reporting by Kate Holton; editing by William James)
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