Leading trade groups warn British government that overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol will “only set us back.”
Posted By: June 11, 2022
IRISH CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING
Distributed to Congress by Irish National Caucus
Leading trade groups warn British government that overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol will “only set us back.”
Staff reporters. Irish News. Belfast. Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Influential trade groups last night warned the British government that overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol would “only set us back”.
As Labor leader Keir Starmer voiced opposition to Boris Johnson’s proposed legislation, trade bodies spoke of concerns about the unilateral move to scrap parts of the international treaty.
It comes amid the deepening row over the post-Brexit Irish Sea trading arrangements.
The protocol was jointly agreed by the UK and EU as part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement to keep the Irish land border free flowing.
Unionists are vociferously opposed to the protocol, claiming it has undermined the region’s place within the UK.
The DUP has blocked the formation of a new power-sharing government at Stormont following last month’s Assembly election in protest at the protocol.
The British government has confirmed it is to table fresh legislation on Monday to act unilaterally to change part of the agreement.
However, Michael Bell, executive director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA), said the protocol had resolved most of the major challenges posed by Brexit.
He said the arrangements were working and had helped businesses avoid “a catastrophic ‘no deal’ Brexit”.
Separately, Chief Executive of the NI Meat Exporters Association Conall Donnelly said the current system for The North “provided an effective and workable platform for trade between these islands and beyond.”
Mr. Bell said since the outcome of the EU referendum, the trade body has lobbied for frictionless movement of goods “on and between these islands”.
“While politicians may debate constitutional implications of Brexit deals, we are concerned with the livelihoods of 113,000 people who are dependent on the prosperity of Northern Ireland food and drink,” he said.
“Simply scrapping the protocol would only set us back.
“We must not forget that Brexit itself presented Northern Ireland food and drink companies with many major challenges, most of which have been resolved by the Protocol whilst offering new opportunities.”
Earlier this week the head of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland said that “quite simply the protocol is working,”
Dr. Mike Johnston said: “We have made this point numerous times and very clearly to both the UK government and the EU.
“It is allowing our trade flows to continue. Is it perfect? No. Are there things that could be improved? Yes.”
Speaking in Belfast yesterday Sir Keir Starmer vowed that a Labor government would axe any UK laws overriding the deal.
He met political leaders in the north yesterday after meeting with Irish government ministers in Dublin on Thursday.
Sir Keir accepted there were practical problems with the protocol but said he thought they could be fixed through negotiations, “guile and hard work”.
