Only goods which may go to the Republic should be subject to greater checks

In relation to the debate about the Northern Ireland Protocol, there is a way out of the present impasse.

The UK government needs to inform the EU Joint Committee that it may have to trigger Article 16 and take safeguarding measures because of “serious economic, societal or environmental difficulties that are liable to persist, or to diversion to trade” .

It is clear that there is serious discontent with the operation of the protocol in the unionist community and trade diversion has already started, with Great Britain suppliers refusing to send goods to NI, even before the full rigour of the rules has started to affect supermarket deliveries and parcels.

This includes goods sent over to businesses here. Such diversion will only get worse when the protocol is fully implemented.

The only goods that should be subject to greater checks than before should be those which may go to the Republic, otherwise food, business supplies and personal parcels should be exempt.

This should be the approach of the unionist parties rather than simply calling for the abolition of the protocol, which is unlikely to happen.

Frank McClintock, Belfast BT4

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