05-23-2022, 07:31 PM
The Liberal Party notes with concern the announcement by the Foreign Secretary to put before parliament legislation to revise elements of the NI Protocol.
We believe that the threat of unilateral revision undermines the UK’s credibility when signing and abiding by international agreements and treaties.
The NI Protocol was implemented as part of the BREXIT agreement to ensure no hard boarder on the island of Ireland and to preserve the Good Friday Agreement. We believe that the stability of the province is enhanced by this historic agreement which has brought 30 years of peace.
Should unilateral revision be needed to the agreement we need to have first genuinely exhaust negotiations with our European trading partners, prioritising the need to minimise delays on the sea border in our discussions.
Under the UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Stormont Assembly has been granted a periodical vote to express its consent or otherwise to the protocols, beginning in December 2024 and this should be the legitimate mechanism for revision or repeal.
We believe that the threat of unilateral revision undermines the UK’s credibility when signing and abiding by international agreements and treaties.
The NI Protocol was implemented as part of the BREXIT agreement to ensure no hard boarder on the island of Ireland and to preserve the Good Friday Agreement. We believe that the stability of the province is enhanced by this historic agreement which has brought 30 years of peace.
Should unilateral revision be needed to the agreement we need to have first genuinely exhaust negotiations with our European trading partners, prioritising the need to minimise delays on the sea border in our discussions.
Under the UK Withdrawal Agreement, the Stormont Assembly has been granted a periodical vote to express its consent or otherwise to the protocols, beginning in December 2024 and this should be the legitimate mechanism for revision or repeal.