Unionists dismiss Northern Ireland Protocol breakthrough claims as 'kite-flying'

Unionists have dismissed a reported breakthrough on a deal to end the wrangling over the Northern Ireland Protocol as “kite-flying”.
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The Times reported on Wednesday that a proposal that would avoid routine checks on goods entering NI from GB has been accepted by the European Union.

However, both the DUP and TUV have rejected the report as containing nothing substantial that would indicate meaningful progress.

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DUP MP Ian Paisley said: “Kite-flying, wishful thinking by commentators and background briefing will not make the substantive changes needed to satisfy our seven tests and restore devolution.

NI Protocol checks have been taking place at the Port of LarneNI Protocol checks have been taking place at the Port of Larne
NI Protocol checks have been taking place at the Port of Larne

“Over eighteen months ago we outlined the parameters for the way forward. We set our tests and those continue to be our yardstick for measuring any deal between the EU and UK.”

Mr Paisley added: “The message has landed in Brussels and London that there will be no restoration of the NI Executive until the Protocol is replaced with arrangements that unionists can support.

“It was a mistake to press ahead and ignore the opposition of unionists in 2020. That has been recognised in London, Dublin, Brussels and Washington. They should not make the same mistake twice.

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“So let’s focus on the prize of a solution instead of the speculation. The protocol must be replaced by arrangements that restore NI’s place in the UK internal market and our constitutional position must be respected.”

TUV leader Jim Allister also dismissed the report as “kite-flying”.

He said: “Today’s kite flying exercise in ‘The Times’ illustrates just how feeble the government’s efforts are when it comes to resolving the constitutional crisis of the protocol.

“The suggestions do nothing to address the fundamental sovereignty issues of Northern Ireland being subject to a foreign legislature whose laws we don’t make and can’t change. Nor, do they address the equally obnoxious constitutional affront of being in a foreign VAT regime, foreign Single Market and under a foreign Customs Code.

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"These are the core issues, which the current talks are not even addressing.”

Mr Allister added: “Unless and until the UK reclaims the EU’s ill-gotten sovereignty over Northern Ireland, they are wasting everyone’s time.

“As I’ve said repeatedly it is the legal text of the iniquitous protocol that counts, not the spin of Downing Street.

"The text is not changing through these talks and, therefore, the problem is not being tackled. All of which means there can be no prospect of any unionist of principle rolling over and implementing the protocol through Stormont.”

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Meanwhile, the Centre For The Union think tank has published an open letter to Minister of State for NI Steve Baker, urging him to “take a stand against Northern Ireland being annexed into the Customs territory of the EU”.

The letter, which has five signatories including Ian Paisley MP, the group's parliamentary chairman, and regional policy directors Jamie Bryson (NI) and Ross Thompson (Sco).

It acknowledges what the think tank describes as Mr Baker’s “strong, principled stance” against “efforts to change the territorial definition of ‘UK’ to exclude Northern Ireland,” in new EU Exit legislation – the Customs

(Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022.

However the letter contains a claim that by introducing further legislation – the Official Control (NI) Regulations 2023 – the government is effectively “treating Northern Ireland as part of the customs territory of the EU”.

The letter concludes: “Put simply, what the government is doing now is not merely the equivalent of that which you, to your credit, strongly opposed on 14 March 2022, but the 2023 Regulations in fact go much

further.

"On 23 October 2022, whilst serving in your current role, you also said, and we quote: ‘We would not have devolved government in Northern Ireland until unionist demands are met and the jurisdiction of EU law comes an end.’ We, therefore, urge you to take a stand against Northern Ireland being annexed into the Customs territory of the EU. This is not Brexit, and this is not compatible with the sovereignty of the United Kingdom.”