The government has announced new regulations to improve trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland after Brexit. These rules were agreed upon in a deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, which will also lead to the reinstatement of the Stormont executive and the appointment of a Sinn Féin first minister.
A document called “Protecting the Unity” was released on Wednesday in an effort to ease concerns from the Democratic Unionist Party about Northern Ireland’s position within the United Kingdom. This is also aimed at resolving a two-year refusal to participate in power sharing, which has caused instability in the nation.
The actions eliminate regular inspections on products from Great Britain that are intended to stay in Northern Ireland and substitutes them with a “UK domestic market system” for goods that stay within the UK.
The government has pledged to revise internal legislation to prevent new EU laws from immediately taking effect in Northern Ireland, and instead require approval from the Stormont assembly through democratic processes. The command paper also outlines plans to quickly pass legislative measures in Westminster on Thursday to reaffirm Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.
The agreement announced by Downing Street involves major modifications to the functioning of the post-Brexit Windsor framework, while keeping its core principles intact.
Rishi Sunak informed the House of Commons that the suggestions would put an end to the political stalemate in Northern Ireland. He stated, “After a period of two years without a governing body, there is now a possibility of power-sharing being reinstated, which will strengthen our union and provide the people with the local and accountable government they require. This will also bring a brighter future for Northern Ireland.”
Six Conservative supporters of Brexit, including Bill Cash and Theresa Villiers, spoke out in Parliament to inquire about the UK’s ability to deviate from EU regulations under the terms of the deal. Conservative MP Richard Drax referred to the enforcement of EU laws in Northern Ireland as a persistent issue that needed to be resolved. However, Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris reassured that the revised plan did not impede the government’s authority to diverge from EU laws.
The members of the European Research Group (ERG) who strongly support Brexit are scheduled to convene on Wednesday to review the specifics of the command paper. According to two anonymous Conservative sources, influential ERG MPs are leaning towards favoring the government’s proposal, which will be voted on by Members of Parliament on Thursday. If a majority of ERG members support it, the legislation will easily pass through the Commons without much opposition from the Conservative party.
Regardless, it appears likely that the plan will be approved, as the Labour party has announced its support. Hilary Benn, the shadow secretary for Northern Ireland, stated that this is an opportunity to give the people of Northern Ireland what they have been lacking for nearly two years: a functional government.
According to the leader of the DUP, Jeffrey Donaldson, the package will reinstate Northern Ireland’s position within the UK and its domestic market. He stated to the BBC that the border in the Irish Sea will be eliminated.
Donaldson commended the prime minister for revising the Northern Ireland protocol in the Windsor agreement from last year, and subsequently making additional adjustments. He acknowledged Rishi Sunak’s efforts, stating, “I am aware that he was not pleased when I expressed my concerns that the changes were insufficient. However, he worked closely with us, alongside the secretary of state and a group of officials, to implement further modifications.”
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The leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) denounced the previous prime minister for accepting a border in the Irish Sea in order to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union. “Despite Boris Johnson’s promises, he failed to follow through,” he stated.
Other parties in Northern Ireland welcomed the deal and were preparing to return to Stormont as early as Saturday to elect an assembly speaker and appoint an executive led by Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill as first minister and a DUP member as deputy first minister – reflecting the 2022 election in which Sinn Féin overtook the DUP as the biggest party.
This will mark a significant moment – the inaugural nationalist first minister in a political setting that was established in 1921 with the intention of maintaining a unionist majority.
O’Neill expressed disappointment in the division of Ireland, stating that it has not served its population well. She also noted the significance of a nationalist and republican woman from Tyrone becoming the first minister, as it reflects the ongoing changes taking place.
Source: theguardian.com
