This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46807083
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 10 | Version 11 |
|---|---|
| Sinn Féin has urged EU officials not 'to blink' on border backstop | Sinn Féin has urged EU officials not 'to blink' on border backstop |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The EU and Irish government "must not blink" when it comes to fully defending the Irish border backstop in the Brexit deal, Sinn Féin has said. | |
| The party's leadership, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill, were speaking after meeting EU officials. | The party's leadership, Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill, were speaking after meeting EU officials. |
| The UK has published proposals to give Stormont a say on new EU rules if the backstop comes into force after Brexit. | The UK has published proposals to give Stormont a say on new EU rules if the backstop comes into force after Brexit. |
| It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May continues in her bid to win over MPs opposed to her Brexit deal. | It comes as Prime Minister Theresa May continues in her bid to win over MPs opposed to her Brexit deal. |
| MPs are set to debate the withdrawal agreement ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Commons next week. | MPs are set to debate the withdrawal agreement ahead of a crucial vote in the House of Commons next week. |
| However, speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Mrs McDonald said she had been given a "strong commitment" from Brussels that the backstop in the withdrawal agreement would be protected. | However, speaking in Brussels on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Mrs McDonald said she had been given a "strong commitment" from Brussels that the backstop in the withdrawal agreement would be protected. |
| While Sinn Féin vice-president Ms O'Neill's message to EU officials and the Irish government was: "Don't blink, there can be no weakening of the backstop." | While Sinn Féin vice-president Ms O'Neill's message to EU officials and the Irish government was: "Don't blink, there can be no weakening of the backstop." |
| Sinn Fein said as the Brexit negotiations approach the final stage, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar needed to "hold firm and not panic". | Sinn Fein said as the Brexit negotiations approach the final stage, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar needed to "hold firm and not panic". |
| "There must be no veto afforded to any party by anybody," added Mrs McDonald. | "There must be no veto afforded to any party by anybody," added Mrs McDonald. |
| 'Veto' | 'Veto' |
| Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington told the BBC the government's plans amounted to giving the NI Assembly a "veto". | Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington told the BBC the government's plans amounted to giving the NI Assembly a "veto". |
| However, his official written statement to Parliament does not contain the word "veto". | However, his official written statement to Parliament does not contain the word "veto". |
| The Democratic Unionist Party, who Mrs May relies on for her Commons majority, has also rejected the proposal as meaningless, and that it would continue to push the government to substantially change the withdrawal agreement. | The Democratic Unionist Party, who Mrs May relies on for her Commons majority, has also rejected the proposal as meaningless, and that it would continue to push the government to substantially change the withdrawal agreement. |
| The party's MP Gavin Robinson said he did not think the proposals would lead to his party backing the deal. | The party's MP Gavin Robinson said he did not think the proposals would lead to his party backing the deal. |
| "The withdrawal agreement says that even if there was disagreement in Stormont, even if Stormont decided that a proposal from the European Union wasn't in the best interests of Northern Ireland, the UK government would legislate over our heads," the Belfast East MP told BBC News NI. | "The withdrawal agreement says that even if there was disagreement in Stormont, even if Stormont decided that a proposal from the European Union wasn't in the best interests of Northern Ireland, the UK government would legislate over our heads," the Belfast East MP told BBC News NI. |
| "So in giving a consultative role, it doesn't sound to me that the proposal that will be outlined is going to be the sort of comfort that people were seeking." | "So in giving a consultative role, it doesn't sound to me that the proposal that will be outlined is going to be the sort of comfort that people were seeking." |
| Northern Ireland has been without a functioning devolved government since the executive collapsed in January 2017. | Northern Ireland has been without a functioning devolved government since the executive collapsed in January 2017. |
| What is the government proposing? | What is the government proposing? |
| The backstop is a position of last resort to maintain a soft border on the island of Ireland. | The backstop is a position of last resort to maintain a soft border on the island of Ireland. |
| It would involve Northern Ireland staying in large parts of the EU single market, unless and until a long-term deal emerged that kept the border as open as it is now. | It would involve Northern Ireland staying in large parts of the EU single market, unless and until a long-term deal emerged that kept the border as open as it is now. |
| The proposals, published on Wednesday, include: | The proposals, published on Wednesday, include: |
| BBC News NI's business editor John Campbell said the proposals appear to fall short of an outright veto as they do not specify that the assembly must give agreement before the UK government acts. | BBC News NI's business editor John Campbell said the proposals appear to fall short of an outright veto as they do not specify that the assembly must give agreement before the UK government acts. |
| What's changed? | What's changed? |
| The EU-UK agreement, known as the withdrawal agreement and signed in November, laid out the procedure for any new EU rules being introduced after the backstop is triggered. | The EU-UK agreement, known as the withdrawal agreement and signed in November, laid out the procedure for any new EU rules being introduced after the backstop is triggered. |
| The EU would inform the UK about the new rule and a joint EU-UK committee would discuss its implication for backstop within six weeks. | The EU would inform the UK about the new rule and a joint EU-UK committee would discuss its implication for backstop within six weeks. |
| The committee either agrees to add the new rule to the backstop or if agreement isn't reached will "examine all further possibilities to maintain the good functioning" the backstop. | The committee either agrees to add the new rule to the backstop or if agreement isn't reached will "examine all further possibilities to maintain the good functioning" the backstop. |
| If there is deadlock - no agreement "within a reasonable time" - the EU is entitled to "take appropriate remedial measures". | If there is deadlock - no agreement "within a reasonable time" - the EU is entitled to "take appropriate remedial measures". |
| The UK is now proposing that its position would be heavily influenced by the assembly. | The UK is now proposing that its position would be heavily influenced by the assembly. |
| Why have the proposals come forward now? | Why have the proposals come forward now? |
| A vote on the draft withdrawal agreement is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, after the original vote was cancelled on 11 December. | A vote on the draft withdrawal agreement is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons on Tuesday, after the original vote was cancelled on 11 December. |
| Mrs May relies on the support of the DUP's 10 MPs and it is highly unlikely the withdrawal agreement will be approved by Parliament if they vote against it. | Mrs May relies on the support of the DUP's 10 MPs and it is highly unlikely the withdrawal agreement will be approved by Parliament if they vote against it. |
| The DUP has repeatedly said it is opposed to the backstop and the withdrawal agreement is worse than a no-deal Brexit. | The DUP has repeatedly said it is opposed to the backstop and the withdrawal agreement is worse than a no-deal Brexit. |
| Mrs May has been seeking extra written assurances from European leaders to try and gain the support of the DUP and many Conservative MPs who oppose her deal. | Mrs May has been seeking extra written assurances from European leaders to try and gain the support of the DUP and many Conservative MPs who oppose her deal. |