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The UK Government appears to have an \u201cunlimited disregard\u201d for the Good Friday Agreement, it has been suggested.<\/p>\nThe UK Government appears to have an \u201cunlimited disregard\u201d for the Good Friday Agreement, it has been suggested.<\/p>\n
SDLP MP Claire Hanna made the claim as she said people in Northern Ireland are desperate for \u201ccertainty\u201d and \u201cstability\u201d ahead of the end of the transition period on December 31st.<\/p>\n
Raising the issue in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday, she also pressed Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis to rule out any undermining of the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n
Far from being limited and specific, it seems to people here the disregard for the Good Friday Agreement is unlimited<\/p>\n
Ms Hanna told MPs: \u201cThe spending of the Shared Prosperity Fund according to clauses in the Internal Market Bill would override devolution with spend in devolved areas with no duty to consult.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that the Internal Market Bill intends to breach international law and yesterday it was indicated that a further breach of international law was likely to come in the Taxation Bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cFar from being limited and specific, it seems to people here the disregard for the Good Friday Agreement is unlimited while people desperately want certainty and a deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan [Mr Lewis] give us any assurances that next week\u2019s Bill won\u2019t further undermine the Northern Ireland Protocol and the chances of a deal, and the certainty and the stability that people here so desperately want?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis responded: \u201cI would just say to [Ms Hanna] if she looks at the clauses in the UK Internal Market Bill that we put in there, they are about actually protecting and delivering on the Good Friday Agreement to ensure there are no borders and it is important that we have no border, not just North-South but East-West as well to deliver that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alliance MP Stephen Farry said that it was \u201cabsurd\u201d that many issues surrounding Brexit remain with so little time before the end of the transition period.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWith barely 700 hours to go until the end of the transition period, it is absurd that so many issues still need to be clarified.<\/p>\n
\u201cDoes the Secretary of State recognize that Northern Ireland businesses require a clear legal framework of which to operate, and as such, any changes or mitigations have to be agreed with the EU under the protocol \u2013 including, potentially, any grace period.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to do the opposite actually places Northern Ireland businesses in a very uncertain legal position going forward and will create long-term problems from them arising from such unilateral action from the Government?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis responded: \u201cI\u2019d say there is a range of things businesses can be doing and should be doing now regardless of what the outcome may be \u2013 such as signing up to the trader support service.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are intensifying and have intensified our work through the specialist joint committee, but I hope that he would join me in supporting the clauses in the UK Internal Market Bill that will give businesses certainty by delivering unfettered access to the whole of the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
DUP Westminster leader Jeffrey Donaldson asked what progress had been made towards securing agreement on a \u201cgrace period\u201d to allow Northern Ireland businesses time to adjust to post-Brexit arrangements.<\/p>\n
He told the Commons: \u201cI\u2019m sure [Brandon Lewis] will agree with me that those who talk loud about the Good Friday Agreement are the people who are threatening the economic prosperity of Northern Ireland by insisting on measures that are completely unnecessary in terms of protecting the Agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo can [Mr Lewis] indicate what progress has been made in securing a commitment from the EU to a significant grace period to allow Northern Ireland businesses sufficient time to adjust to new arrangements that will be introduced when the transition period ends on December 31st?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Lewis responded: \u201cWe are working with the EU and both the UK and the EU have committed to that intensified process that colleagues will have seen to resolve all outstanding issues with the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, and that includes securing the flexibilities that we need to see for trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.\u201d<\/p>\n