Ireland to analyse UK proposals on N.Ireland, calls for realism

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will closely analyse British proposals to reduce trade frictions between Britain and Northern Ireland, but any solution must remain within the terms of a deal agreed with the European Union last year, its foreign minister said on Wednesday.

"We will continue to encourage the UK to work in partnership with the EU to identify realistic solutions in a spirit of positive and constructive engagement," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said in a statement after the British government demanded a new deal.

"However, any solutions must take place within the framework of the (Northern Ireland) Protocol and the principles that underpin it," Coveney said, referring to part of Britain's EU exit deal that Britain wants to change.

(Reporting by Conor Humphries; editing by James Davey)