Asked if the EU Commission might be willing to concede its position on the ECJ relinquishing some of its oversight role, Mr Martin said the court had never formed part of the discussions with Mr Johnson around the Northern Irish protocol or the related political difficulties that arose for the British government.

"The main sticking point all along on the ground was around the free flow of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, " said Mr Martin.

"Even with the British PM, in the discussions I have with him in respect of Northern Ireland, it was, emotively, people talking about the sausages getting to Northern Ireland and so on.

"You know what, the sausages can now get to Northern Ireland. I don't want to be facetious about it but the bottom line is we got over that too," he said.

He said that the free flow of goods, medicines, a simplified system for testing animals, were all the key issues.

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Meanwhile DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has told European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic the EU's proposed changes to the Northern Ireland protocol "fall short of what is needed".

Mr Donaldson said "short-term fixes" would not solve the problems and what was needed was a "sustainable solution which removes the Irish Sea border and restores our place within the United Kingdom."

Mr Sefcovic is to meet virtually with the leaders of the five parties in the Northern Executive on Thursday.