NI’s fresh food supply ‘back to 95% of normal levels’

Michelle O’Neill, First Minister Arlene Foster and other Executive ministers had a lengthy discussion yesterday about problems and issues that have emerged since the Northern Ireland Protocol came into operation.

Depleted shelves have been seen in several supermarkets in the early days of the new year as trade from Great Britain has been affected as traders adjust to new requirements on moving produce across the Irish Sea.

Export health certificates are required for animal-based food products moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland as a result of the Province remaining in the EU single market for goods.

With Northern Ireland also applying EU customs rules at its ports, customs declarations are needed on products being shipped into Northern Ireland from Britain.

Stormont’s leaders currently take part in daily meetings with UK government ministers and officials to examine issues around the implementation of Brexit.

After yesterday’s meeting of the Stormont Executive, Ms O’Neill told a press conference in Dungannon: “We’re obviously dealing with and what we’re witnessing I think is largely a trading adjustment shock.

“And it’s very clear that businesses in Britain weren’t prepared for the outworking on the other side of the end of the transition period and I think that’s led to a lot of the difficulties.

“So there are things that need to be identified, there is this daily meeting every day to try to iron out some of the things and to get resolution, because that’s what we need to have is resolution for those businesses that are impacted on it.”

Ms O’Neill said one local steel manufacturer had told her they were facing an additional £50,000 of costs a week as a result of new arrangements.

“So that’s a huge implication that needs to be resolved and we’ll work to find a resolution to these things,” she said.

“And just in terms of the flow of fresh produce, we’re told that that’s now probably back to about 95% of normal trade so at least that’s something, so people aren’t worrying about food being on the shelves.”

Mrs Foster said: “We are consistently saying that government needs to take action in relation to these difficulties.

“And we will again reiterate that tomorrow from a party point of view when Jeffrey Donaldson (DUP MP) will lay an urgent oral (question) in the House of Commons tomorrow.

“So action needs to be taken to deal with these ongoing difficulties. We know what the difficulties are, they have been identified very clearly. So let’s get dealing with them and then let’s get on with the business of running Northern Ireland.”

In the House of Lords yesterday, DUP peer Lord Dodds and UUP peer Lord Empey both urged the government to urgently resolve the problems. Representing the government, Lord Agnew said that we are “a few days into an enormous change” and there will be “a learning process over the next few weeks”.

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