Lords Protocol Committee takes further evidence on Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Tuesday 11 October 2022
At 3:15pm on Wednesday 12 October the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland Sub-Committee will continue its inquiry scrutinising the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill by taking evidence from academic experts.
The evidence session will take place in Committee Room 3, Palace of Westminster and will be available to watch on Parliament TV.
The Committee will hear from:
3.15pm - 4.30pm
- Dr Niamh Gallagher, Lecturer in British and Irish History, University of Cambridge
- Professor Henry Patterson, Emeritus Professor, Ulster University
Background
The Committee launched its inquiry into the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill on 30 August, after the Bill completed its parliamentary passage through the House of Commons and was presented to the House of Lords in July. The inquiry, which follows the July publication of the Committee’s follow-up report on the socio-economic and political impact of the Protocol, will inform the House of Lords’ detailed consideration of the Bill.
The Committee began its scrutiny during September by holding evidence sessions with business representatives and legal experts. This evidence session will follow the Second Reading debate on the Bill taking place on Tuesday 11 September, in which the Chair and other members of the Committee will participate.
Possible question topics include
- The political, economic and legal impact of the of the Northern Ireland Bill and of the protocol as it is currently operating on Northern Ireland.
- Assessment of the UK Government and EU’s approach in relation to the Protocol.
- Whether the Bill represents a viable means to address the current issues that have arisen under the Protocol.
- Assessment of the Government’s argument that the Bill is necessary to safeguard the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
- The impact the Bill will have on the economic and political climate in Northern Ireland, and on North/South and East/West relations, if and when it comes into law.
- As talks between the UK and the EU resume, the likelihood that the issues which the Bill attempts to tackle will be addressed through a mutually agreed settlement.
- Ways forward to resolve the current impasse.
