Dodds: It is unconscionable that in the 21st century we have laws imposed on us without say

A DUP peer has accused the Government of providing little or no information, other than of poor quality, about how the Protocol allows the EU to impose more than 300 pieces of legislation on Northern Ireland.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Mar 2022, 17:26 BST
EU and UK flags togetherEU and UK flags together
EU and UK flags together

Lord Dodds said that the latest Westminster report into the impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol has underlined the need for the government in London to be “more open and transparent with the public” in the Province over the way the EU governs much of local economic and commercial life.

The Lords’ Protocol Committee’s newly released 49-page inquiry into the Protocol’s effects found that more than 300 EU laws and rules regulate Northern Ireland’s economic activity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Northern Ireland is subject to over 300 pieces of EU legislation applying on a dynamic basis, meaning they can be amended or replaced by the EU directly,” he said.

“The Protocol also provides for the addition of new legislation to the raft of legislation which already applies.

“For example, last week a House of Commons report pointed to the range of legislation which may emerge for Northern Ireland as result of the EU Commission’s work plan for next year.

“It is clear that, apart from the committee’s work, there is little detailed scrutiny going on with any of this legislation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It is unconscionable and unthinkable in a modern 21st-century country that its citizens have laws imposed upon them without any say or vote by those citizens or their representatives.”

Lord Dodds added: “Often the government provides no or very poor quality information or explanation.”

More from the News Letter:

Click here: Landmark libel win: Paper Trail case against News Letter collapses with plaintiffs paying towards costs

Click here for more opinion and letters: www.newsletter.co.uk/news/opinion——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdowns having had a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit

https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptionsnow to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Ben Lowry, Editor

Related topics:Northern Ireland ProtocolNorthern IrelandGovernmentDUPBen Lowry