{"id":22895,"date":"2021-08-27T15:31:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-27T19:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22895"},"modified":"2021-08-29T10:34:31","modified_gmt":"2021-08-29T14:34:31","slug":"donaldson-calls-for-swift-resolution-to-ni-protocol-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=22895","title":{"rendered":"Donaldson Calls For Swift Resolution To NI Protocol Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Sir Jeffrey Donaldson meeting Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin (PA Media)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has urged the quick resolution to unionist issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson held talks with Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin in Dublin on Friday, which were described as \u201cfrank and open\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lagan Valley MP said he warned the Taoiseach that unionists \u201ccannot be expected to work as normal\u201d with the Republic when Northern Ireland\u2019s relationship with Britain is \u201cbeing harmed on a daily basis\u201d by the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Taoiseach, speaking separately, said he acknowledged \u201cthe concerns of the unionist community are sincere\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I indicated as well that the mechanisms are there in the UK-EU trade agreement to resolve these issues and the issues around the protocol,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur sense has been that the EU Commission has been flexible and ready to respond to the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do need to see similar flexibility from the UK Government side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unionists are strongly opposed to the impact on the additional checks under the protocol on trade between Northern Ireland and Britain, arguing it places a border down the Irish Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legal action has been taken against the protocol while loyalists have been holding a series of demonstrations against the post-Brexit arrangements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson said he told the Taoiseach that unionist concerns over the protocol are growing, and of the potential for it to cause further political harm later in the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said the harm to the east\/west relationship may have consequences for the north\/south relationship in Ireland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnionists cannot reasonably be expected to work as normal on a North\/South basis when our relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom is being harmed on a daily basis by this protocol,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is simply the reality of the political situation that we face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to see a political crisis in Northern Ireland, I don\u2019t want to see the political institutions being harmed, I want to see a Northern Ireland where we move towards a more united community, but the protocol is harming our capacity to build that united community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson said issues around the protocol need to be addressed, and quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to remove the border that has developed between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in trading terms, we need to recognize that for unionists that cuts across the very Act of Union itself, which is the very fundamental building block of our relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnionists cannot in any circumstances support such a situation and therefore the Irish Sea border needs to be removed, and we need to find practical solutions that will enable trade to return to normality between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and at the same time put in place measures that protect the integrity of the EU single market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose two situations are not mutually exclusive.\u201d<\/p>\n

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