- DUP ends assembly boycott
- New trade legislation passed
- NI Protocol concerns addressed
Saturday marks the return of the Northern Ireland Assembly to session, subsequent to the Democratic Unionist Party’s (DUP) cessation of its embargo of the power-sharing institutions.
In a letter to the Speaker, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Union, remarked on the legislation passed in the House of Commons on Thursday.
The enactment will eliminate the need for regular inspections of products travelling from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland.
Saturday will commemorate the exact two-year anniversary of the DUP’s executive collapse.
The party boycotted as a protest against post-Brexit trade arrangements.
It had requested modifications to the way in which goods are exchanged between Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom so that the Stormont impasse could be resolved.
Speaker Alex Maskey issued a letter to all members of the assembly on Thursday evening, providing them with a summons to sit on Saturday at 13:00 GMT.
Chris Heaton-Harris, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, expressed his elation at the DUP’s “exceptional move to collaborate with the other parties in Northern Ireland to recall the assembly.”
He further expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the newly appointed First Minister, Deputy First Minister, and all ministers comprising the Northern Ireland Executive, in addition to members of the Northern Ireland Assembly, to enhance the quality of life for the local populace.
The 120-member DUP executive agreed on Monday evening to support an agreement to return to Stormont, contingent on the passage of legislation at Westminster.
Stormont’s Path to Renewed Governance
On Thursday, Sir Jeffrey announced that the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive have been reestablished. This success was the result of extensive internal party processes involving party officers, all elected members, and DUP peers in the House of Lords. Additionally, the government has completed the necessary legislative measures.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris stated earlier in Thursday’s House of Commons debate that once Stormont is operational, Northern Ireland politicians will have the capacity to form a strong government, make the right decisions for the region, and significantly enhance its prosperity.
Regarding the agreement reached earlier this week, he stated, “Precisely, this legislation will also alter the law to prevent future agreements with the European Union from establishing new regulatory borders between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.”
This is a crucial new safeguard to ensure the constitutional status of Northern Ireland in the future.
According to Sir Jeffrey, the NI Protocol “undermined the principle of consent,” which was “central to the Good Friday Agreement,” in the minds of unionists. He stated this in the House of Commons.
He further stated, “The principle of consent and the will of the people of Northern Ireland alone will determine the future of our country as a part of the United Kingdom, as the new measures and legislation have reset the balance.”
Mr. Heaton-Harris responded, “Tomorrow, our entire purpose is to attempt to restore government by consent in Stormont for the foreseeable future.”
However, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood questioned whether the government had “departed from the principle of rigorous impartiality” and stated that the command paper undermined the Good Friday Agreement.
Mr. Eastwood later remarked that Sir Jeffrey had “done a great deal of good work over the past couple of weeks” and that he had been extremely courageous, as “facing down people from your own constituency is not an easy task.”
However, he stated that he wished to state unequivocally that the SDLP was opposed to the command document because it impeded cooperation between the north and south and emphasised east-west relations excessively.
“Seize the opportunity”
Minister of State for Northern Ireland Steve Baker later stated, while debating the second part of the legislation, that the institutional arrangements for Stormont and the government’s £3.3 billion financial package represented a tremendous opportunity for Northern Ireland.
He stated that if politicians in Northern Ireland seize the opportunity at hand, they have the capacity to transform the country into a symbol of prosperity and, with any luck, reconciliation on a global stage. The regulations being discussed today are a component of that endeavour.
When Mr. Eastwood inquired whether Mr. Baker supported the provision of the Good Friday Agreement requiring the United Kingdom government to maintain “rigorous impartiality,” Mr. Baker responded, “Absolutely.”
The agreement agreed with the DUP, in his statement, is “consistent with our unionism and our complete adherence to all facets of the Belfast Agreement.”
Hilary Benn, shadow secretary of state, stated, “Once we have completed our duties for the day, the onus will shift to the politicians of Northern Ireland.”
In the House of Commons, Sammy Wilson, an MP for the DUP, opposed the agreement.
He stated that a thorough investigation of the particulars was crucial and that he did not believe the legislation’s “hurried through” process permitted for such an examination.
Lord Dodds, a peer from the Democratic Union, expressed his approval of the establishment of new entities, including InterTrade UK and the East-West Council, in accordance with the new agreement. He further stated, “I commend and congratulate all individuals who have participated in the negotiations.”
However, he stated that a tremendous number of unionists are extremely anxious and concerned that the Irish Sea Border still exists; we must delve into the specifics of this agreement.
He explained that this was due to the fact that many British products, particularly those used in manufacturing, still must undergo extensive EU compliance checks and procedures before entering Northern Ireland.
