Menu
17/10/2022
Talks Must 'Clear Away Debris Of Protocol Years' – DUP
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said that Northern Ireland needs solid foundations to move forward and "clear away the debris of the Protocol years".
The DUP Leader is meeting today, Monday 17 October, with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Belfast.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Jeffrey said: "We must lay solid foundations if we are to move forward. We need to clear away the debris of the Protocol years. We need to restore cross-community consensus. No unionist MLAs support the Protocol. Therefore, it must be replaced by arrangements that unionists can support. This is essential if the political institutions are to function and succeed.
"Brussels must loosen the guide ropes for their negotiating team so a proper renegotiation can take place. The persistent refusal to change their negotiating mandate has been an impediment over the last two years to securing an outcome that unionists can support.
"The Protocol continues to bedevil us, with businesses and consumers reporting further problems each week. A 25% tariff on steel, driving up transport costs by almost 30% and uncertainty over medicine and veterinary supplies. The checks, however, on the Irish Sea border are but a symptom of the problem. They are the product of Northern Ireland being subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any locally elected representative.
"In the future, as Great Britain moves in a different direction on aid or taxation, Northern Ireland will face further new barriers because we are tied to a different set of laws.
"If we can secure a better way forward, then there is a great prize of stable devolved government but without decisive action in Dublin and Brussels then the Protocol will continue to erode the foundations of Stormont. Devolution requires the support of unionists as well as nationalists if it is to function and succeed."
The DUP Leader is meeting today, Monday 17 October, with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin in Belfast.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Sir Jeffrey said: "We must lay solid foundations if we are to move forward. We need to clear away the debris of the Protocol years. We need to restore cross-community consensus. No unionist MLAs support the Protocol. Therefore, it must be replaced by arrangements that unionists can support. This is essential if the political institutions are to function and succeed.
"Brussels must loosen the guide ropes for their negotiating team so a proper renegotiation can take place. The persistent refusal to change their negotiating mandate has been an impediment over the last two years to securing an outcome that unionists can support.
"The Protocol continues to bedevil us, with businesses and consumers reporting further problems each week. A 25% tariff on steel, driving up transport costs by almost 30% and uncertainty over medicine and veterinary supplies. The checks, however, on the Irish Sea border are but a symptom of the problem. They are the product of Northern Ireland being subject to a different set of laws imposed upon us by a foreign entity without any say or vote by any locally elected representative.
"In the future, as Great Britain moves in a different direction on aid or taxation, Northern Ireland will face further new barriers because we are tied to a different set of laws.
"If we can secure a better way forward, then there is a great prize of stable devolved government but without decisive action in Dublin and Brussels then the Protocol will continue to erode the foundations of Stormont. Devolution requires the support of unionists as well as nationalists if it is to function and succeed."
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
18 January 2016
New National IP Protocol Launched
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, has launched the new National IP Protocol, which continues the State's aim of making the process of engagement between business and the research base in Ireland more straightforward.
New National IP Protocol Launched
Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English, has launched the new National IP Protocol, which continues the State's aim of making the process of engagement between business and the research base in Ireland more straightforward.
13 July 2016
Three Men Arrested After 4x4 Rams Garda Checkpoint
Three men have been arrested as part of an operation targeting burglaries and theft in rural areas of Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny, The arrests were made after a 4x4 vehicle failed to stop for a garda checkpoint just before midnight on Tuesday, 12 July, at Cloncourse, Portlaoise.
Three Men Arrested After 4x4 Rams Garda Checkpoint
Three men have been arrested as part of an operation targeting burglaries and theft in rural areas of Laois, Offaly, Tipperary, Carlow and Kilkenny, The arrests were made after a 4x4 vehicle failed to stop for a garda checkpoint just before midnight on Tuesday, 12 July, at Cloncourse, Portlaoise.
09 June 2016
Govt Urged To Increase Funding For Domestic Violence Support Services
The government has been urged to substantially increase funding for domestic violence accommodation support services. Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoin Ó Broin, made the call following a response from Minister Katherine Zappone to a parliamentary question which showed that Tusla only received €15.
Govt Urged To Increase Funding For Domestic Violence Support Services
The government has been urged to substantially increase funding for domestic violence accommodation support services. Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoin Ó Broin, made the call following a response from Minister Katherine Zappone to a parliamentary question which showed that Tusla only received €15.
26 February 2016
Search Ongoing For Armed Robber
Garda have appealed for information following the armed robbery of a shop in Rathfarnham on Thursday evening. It is understood that a man entered a Centra Store on Main Street just after 17:00 and threatened staff with a handgun. No one was injured in the incident but the man fled the scene with an undisclosed sum of money.
Search Ongoing For Armed Robber
Garda have appealed for information following the armed robbery of a shop in Rathfarnham on Thursday evening. It is understood that a man entered a Centra Store on Main Street just after 17:00 and threatened staff with a handgun. No one was injured in the incident but the man fled the scene with an undisclosed sum of money.
28 February 2020
Communities Have Vital Role To Play In Climate Action - Labour
Communities across Ireland have a vital role to play in addressing climate change and should be active participants in our bid to create a more energy efficient and sustainable future. Labour TD Seán Sherlock made the call in response to the publication of the Terms and Conditions for the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction.
Communities Have Vital Role To Play In Climate Action - Labour
Communities across Ireland have a vital role to play in addressing climate change and should be active participants in our bid to create a more energy efficient and sustainable future. Labour TD Seán Sherlock made the call in response to the publication of the Terms and Conditions for the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:All parts will have dry day with some good spells of sunshine, some cloud bubbling up this morning. Warm in the southwest but onshore breezes keeping coastal districts somewhat cooler. Maximum temperature 20 °C.Tonight:Dry this evening with some late sunshine. The rest of the night will be dry and rather cool with mostly clear skies and the odd mist or fog patch. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
