Post-Brexit rules are ‘damaging Northern Ireland’, says DUP minister Edwin Poots
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) agriculture minister, Edwin Poots, has called on the UK Government to take immediate action to prevent the Northern Ireland Protocol "damaging Northern Ireland at the economic and societal level".
Poots who made the comments on Friday (08 January) has come under criticism from political rivals.
In relation to post-Brexit trading difficulties, Social Democratic and Labor Party (SDLP) leader, Colum Eastwood, addressed Poots directly by retorting: "You broke it, you own it!"
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), Martina Anderson, accused Poots of being “asleep at the wheel”.
For his part, the Stormont minister has admitted some foods will be unavailable and jobs could be at risk if changes are not made.
Predicting the rising costs, Poots tweeted that “a wide range of frozen and chilled foods will be unavailable after the temporary exemption period ends”.
— Edwin Poots MLA (@edwinpootsmla) January 8, 2021 ">http://
I met hauliers, supermarkets, and processors this week, jobs will be lost in processing, costs of transportation will rise, a wide range of frozen/chilled foods will be unavailable after the temporary exemption period ends.
— Edwin Poots MLA (@edwinpootsmla) January 8, 2021
While the UK has left the European Union (EU), Northern Ireland has remained in the Single Market for goods and is continuing to apply EU customs rules.
Altogether these arrangements constitute the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol.
However, in Mr. Poots’ view, the protocol should be unilaterally revoked as it is inflicting damage on the local economy.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Office minister, Michael Gove, has claimed that trading arrangements from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland “will get worse before it gets better”, adding that he had spoken to ministers from all parties in the Northern Ireland Executive.
Mr. Gove said that "work is ongoing" and it is "all part of the process of leaving the European Union".
Opposing Mr. Poots’ position, Mr. Gove said discussions with the executive in Northern Ireland were ongoing "in order to make sure that the [Northern Ireland] protocol works".
Political divisions aside, once the exemption period (also referred to as the grace period) ends in April, food importers will have to comply with all the relevant paperwork, or alternatively find suppliers in the Irish Republic.
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