Let me help remind William Irwin MLA as to how he voted on the Irish Sea border

A letter from Dr Paul Kingsley:
By Letters
Published 2nd Feb 2021, 07:00 BST
Updated 2nd Feb 2021, 19:41 BST
William Irwin is a DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh. He was one of 81 MLAs who voted in the assembly for a statutory instrument to implement 45 EU directives and regulationsWilliam Irwin is a DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh. He was one of 81 MLAs who voted in the assembly for a statutory instrument to implement 45 EU directives and regulations
William Irwin is a DUP MLA for Newry and Armagh. He was one of 81 MLAs who voted in the assembly for a statutory instrument to implement 45 EU directives and regulations

I read that there is a dispute between DUP MLA, William Irwin (‘Irwin hits back in sea border row,’ February 1), and the Markethill Orange District as to whether or not he voted for the Irish Sea border.

Perhaps I can be of some assistance.

On December 8 2020, William Irwin is listed as one of 81 MLAs who voted in the assembly for a statutory instrument to implement 45 EU directives and regulations.

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Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Jim Allister, who, with Jim Wells, was just one of two MLAs to vote against this measure, pointed out in this newspaper (‘These are the 81 MLAs who banned soil imports,’ Jan 26) that “the statutory instrument is surrendering the power of the devolved assembly to make our own laws that touch on these issues and intend instead to commit ourselves irreversibly to imposing the laws that are in the protocol: laws that we do not make, that we cannot change and into which we have absolutely no input”.

The statutory instrument included the ludicrous provision that soil cannot be imported to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, so if plants have any soil attached to them, they are also banned.

I point this out in case Mr Irwin cannot remember what he voted for.

Dr Paul Kingsley, Belfast BT4

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Related topics:William Irwin MLAMLAsJim AllisterIrish SeaNorthern Ireland