Address Brexit uncertainties in Northern Ireland Protocol, Peers urge Government
The Government must engage more with Northern Ireland businesses and address their Brexit frustration and concerns, a committee of Peers has said.
The House of Lords European Union Committee has written to the minister overseeing Brexit preparations to highlight issues raised on its fact-finding mission to Belfast in February to discuss the Protocol for Ireland/Northern Ireland.
The committee heard from businesses and transport providers as well as representatives from across the political spectrum and academic experts.
In a letter to Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster - who is due to give evidence to the committee next week - Lord Kinnoull, chair of the EU Committee, outlined several concerns raised including:
- Uncertainty - The biggest concern was uncertainty over the practical impact of the implementation of the Protocol upon businesses;
- Engagement - Several witnesses expressed deep frustration and dissatisfaction at the lack of engagement by the UK Government with the concerns of Northern Ireland businesses;
- Capability - There was concern about the lack of knowledge and understanding of how the Protocol will operate in practice;
- Time - There was significant concern over the lack of time to prepare for the Protocol to become operational.;
- Goods ‘at risk' - Witnesses expressed particular concern at the implications of the Protocol's default position that goods passing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland will be deemed at risk of passing into the EU Single Market unless the UK-EU Joint Committee indicates otherwise;
- Unfettered access - Several witnesses remarked on the lack of clarity over the Government's commitment to ‘unfettered access' for Northern Ireland products in Great Britain;
- Competitiveness - Several witnesses expressed serious concerns about the impact of the Protocol upon the competitiveness of Northern Ireland businesses.
