Extend the Northern Ireland Protocol to the island of Ireland

There is a way to solve the current protocol problems and that is to extend the Northern Ireland Protocol to the whole of Ireland.

The whole island would stay in the European Union single market and customs union as before, but free trade would resume between both parts of Ireland and Britain on the condition that goods and food produced in Great Britain for sale in Ireland must be produced to EU standards.

A trusted trader scheme would ensure that this is the case and only such products would be accepted or produced here.

In relation to export to the EU, free trade would continue between both parts of Ireland and the continent as all goods and food produced here would be fully EU compliant.

If GB wants to change the rules for other exports they would be free to do so, but twin production lines would then be necessary.

The scheme could be extended to trade between Britain and the EU generally over time and cut down on the paperwork.

Frank McClintock, Belfast BT4

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