MPs’ report: Government gambling with future of NI business and people

The government has been accused of “gambling with the future of business and of the people of Northern Ireland” in its approach to Brexit.
Heavy goods vehicles arriving at Larne portHeavy goods vehicles arriving at Larne port
Heavy goods vehicles arriving at Larne port

Those were the words of Conservative MP Simon Hoare, following the publication of a new report on customs arrangements after Brexit.

The report, published by the Northern Ireland Affairs committee at Westminster which Mr Hoare chairs, states that businesses are “still in the dark” about what they need to do to get ready for the end of the Brexit transition period at the end of the year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Hoare said it looks “less and less likely” there will be “unfettered access” between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

It warns that the government’s apparent “limited understanding of how business works” is leaving business ill prepared for the end of the Brexit transition period at the end of the year.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol, the Province will remain as part of the UK’s customs territory but will continue to follow EU customs law and regulations on goods in order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland – something the committee says has “the potential to create significant trade disruption if EU and UK laws diverge”.

The UK government has admitted the new arrangements next year will mean more regulatory checks on some goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK, with the expansion of infrastructure to carry out screening of animals and food products.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the government has insisted there will be no new physical customs infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The committee report calls on ministers to provide more detail to businesses on trading arrangements before October.

It also called for a “plan B” in case the UK and EU fail to strike a comprehensive trade deal before the transition period ends on December 31.

Mr Hoare said: “The government needs to stop gambling with the future of business and of the people of Northern Ireland.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Instead, it must set out detailed and realistic proposals on how customs processes will work and which goods will be affected.

“Unfettered access was promised, but it looks less and less likely that it will be delivered. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and it must not experience particular disadvantage because of Brexit.”

Mr Hoare continued: “Political process must not trump the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.

“The government may be able to wait until the wire for clarity on customs arrangements, but business cannot. Those trading across the Irish Sea have been told to prepare without knowing what to prepare for. It’s now time for them to get that clarity, and they must have it by October 1.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“If not, business will not have time to prepare for the realistic prospect of friction and delays to products moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This will increase their costs, with an accompanying increase in the cost of living.

“Such frictions would be incompatible with the notion of ‘unfettered access’ touted by government ministers. It would put Northern Ireland at a competitive disadvantage compared with the rest of the UK and would damage business confidence at a time when it has seldom been lower.”