Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

NI Protocol: UK override bill 'won't break international law'

NI Protocol: UK override bill 'won't break international law'

New legislation to change post-Brexit trade arrangements will not break international law, the Northern Ireland secretary has said.

Brandon Lewis said he was confident the changes would be lawful.

The UK government is due to publish legislation on Monday that would allow ministers to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The protocol keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods.

It prevents a hard border with the Republic of Ireland but means checks on some goods arriving from other parts of the UK.

Critics of the move, including the Irish government, have said any unilateral action could breach international law.

However Mr Lewis said that when people see the legislation "they'll see it's focused on fixing the problems with the implementation of the protocol".

"Doing so is not only within international law but works for people across the United Kingdom and respects the EU single market," he told BBC News NI's Sunday Politics programme.

Earlier, Mr Lewis told the Sunday Morning programme the UK government would also set out its legal position when introducing the legislation.

He said the legal position would "make sure people see it is within international law".

On Saturday, BBC News NI economic editor John Campbell wrote that representatives from the food industry in Northern Ireland warned that scrapping the protocol could damage businesses.

The Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) told BBC News NI the protocol was working for the majority of its members.

But Mr Lewis said businesses did not want to see "uncertainty and instability" and some industries, including hospitality, had been "consistently clear that parts of the protocol are causing issues".

He added: "When people see what we're proposing tomorrow, it is sensible solutions to the very issues that have been detrimental to businesses."


What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?


The trade deal governs how goods enter Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK and was agreed by the UK government and the European Union following the Brexit vote in 2019.

It was designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland when the UK left the European Union.

The protocol led to the creation of new goods checks at Northern Ireland sea ports on some products from Great Britain, effectively creating a new trade border in the Irish Sea.


Unionist parties, including the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), argue that this has led to extra costs and unnecessary delays, as well as undermining the union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.


What could be in the new legislation?


On Sunday, Irish newspaper the Business Post reported that officials from the UK's Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) have written to agri-food businesses setting out what the changes will mean.

The letter reportedly said ministers would remove all customs processes for goods moving within the United Kingdom and enable the frictionless movement of agri-food goods staying within the UK.

It also indicated that businesses in Northern Ireland could have the ability to choose whether to follow UK or EU regulations, depending on who they are trading with.

When asked on the Sunday Politics programme about the possibility of moving to a dual-regulatory system, Mr Lewis said the UK government wants a system "where products that are moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland to be consumed or used within the UK can do so freely and flexibly".

The new law may allow for firms to choose whether goods follow UK or EU regulations, depending on who they are trading with


"That means giving businesses in Northern Ireland options and the ability to trade both ways as part of the United Kingdom, but have that free ability to trade with the (EU) single market.

"We think we've got a proposal that's very sensible and does that and can give confidence to the EU that there is no risk to the single market."

Any legislation would have to be approved by Parliament, a process which could take months. The legislation could also face challenges by both rebel MPs from within the Conservative Party - after the recent revolt against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's leadership - and in the House of Lords.

The EU has previously acknowledged issues with the protocols and, last October, put forward its own proposals which it said would cut paperwork and checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

However, the UK rejected these plans saying they would make things worse.


Will it solve the Stormont crisis?


A row over the impact of the protocol has created a block on forming a devolved government in Northern Ireland, with the DUP stopping the assembly from sitting or a new executive being formed since Sinn Féin emerged as the largest party in May's election.

The DUP, which has the second highest number of Stormont seats, has refused to support the election of a new speaker or first and deputy first minister until there is "action" on the protocol.

Asked whether Monday's legislation could tempt the party to return to power-sharing, Mr Lewis said he hoped the DUP would see it "resolves the issues they've been concerned about".

"If the DUP are true to what they have said and the reason they withdrew around wanting to see positive progress on fixing the problems of the protocol, this legislation will do that," he added.

But DUP MP Sammy Wilson said it was too early to make a final judgement on the legislation.

"It was supposed to be published on Thursday, it wasn't because there were still arguments within the cabinet and the Conservative Party on what should be contained in the legislation," he said.

"We have seen and have been told bits and pieces of what is there but since it has been a changing feast all week, until we see the final draft, then it's impossible for me to judge on."

During the past week, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson defended his party's saying that "there is not cross-community support for the protocol".

Sinn Féin has said any move by the UK government to change the protocol would be "unacceptable to the wider public and majority of MLAs (Northern Ireland Assembly members) who support the protocol".

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Sinn Féin leader Mary-Lou McDonald said that the UK legislation would break international law and cause "huge, huge damage" to the Northern Irish and Irish economies.

On Wednesday, the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) said unilateral action on the protocol would mark a "historic low".

Speaking at the European Parliament, Michéal Martin said it was "perfectly reasonable" to want to make improvements to the protocol but warned that any attempt to do so outside the agreed joint mechanisms would damage the rule of law.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
EU Proposes Phasing Out Russian Oil and Gas by End of 2027 to End Energy Dependence
More Than 150,000 Followers for a Fictional Character: The New Influencers Are AI Creations
EU Prepares for War
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
×