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Northern Ireland Protocol: What did Boris Johnson say? Northern Ireland Protocol: What did Boris Johnson say?
(about 1 month later)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the Brexit deal for Northern Ireland - called the protocol - "is turning into a political problem" that needs to be rectified. The government has set out plans to change the Northern Ireland (NI) Protocol, part of the Brexit deal Boris Johnson agreed with the European Union in 2020. It came into force in January 2021 and means NI still follows some EU rules.
The deal - which he negotiated and signed up to - came into force in January 2021 and means Northern Ireland (NI) still follows some EU rules.
It was aimed at avoiding checks on goods crossing the border with the Republic of Ireland, but it has led to checks on goods arriving in NI from Great Britain (GB).It was aimed at avoiding checks on goods crossing the border with the Republic of Ireland, but it has led to checks on goods arriving in NI from Great Britain (GB).
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) oppose this because it has created a trade barrier with the rest of the UK. It won't allow the formation of a new government in NI unless there are significant changes. However, following the recent elections, a majority of assembly members accept the protocol. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) opposes this because it has created a trade barrier with the rest of the UK. However, following the recent elections, a majority of NI assembly members accept the protocol.
Mr Johnson is pushing for changes to the deal - and the government is considering whether to override parts of it - but this is in marked contrast to what he said about the protocol at the time he negotiated it. Mr Johnson says he wants to "fix" the protocol because it has been "upsetting the balance of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement" (the peace deal signed in 1998).
His comments are in marked contrast to what he said about the protocol at the time he negotiated it.
Brexit: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?Brexit: What is the Northern Ireland Protocol?
Ignoring parts of Northern Ireland protocol is legal, says attorney generalIgnoring parts of Northern Ireland protocol is legal, says attorney general
Northern Ireland: Did anyone warn about Brexit checks?Northern Ireland: Did anyone warn about Brexit checks?
'A good arrangement… with the minimum possible bureaucratic consequences' - 19 October 2019'A good arrangement… with the minimum possible bureaucratic consequences' - 19 October 2019
Mr Johnson gave this assessment in the House of Commons shortly after agreeing the terms of the deal, urging MPs to back it.Mr Johnson gave this assessment in the House of Commons shortly after agreeing the terms of the deal, urging MPs to back it.
But annexes to the protocol set out a long list of EU laws that would apply to NI, including laws dealing with products of animal origin and the EU customs code.But annexes to the protocol set out a long list of EU laws that would apply to NI, including laws dealing with products of animal origin and the EU customs code.
The government's own impact assessment, published at the time, was clear. "Goods arriving in Northern Ireland, including from Great Britain," it said, "would undergo regulatory checks in accordance with EU rules."The government's own impact assessment, published at the time, was clear. "Goods arriving in Northern Ireland, including from Great Britain," it said, "would undergo regulatory checks in accordance with EU rules."
And an internal document drawn up by the Treasury - leaked a few weeks later - warned that "customs declarations and documentary and physical checks... will be highly disruptive to the NI economy".And an internal document drawn up by the Treasury - leaked a few weeks later - warned that "customs declarations and documentary and physical checks... will be highly disruptive to the NI economy".
It also highlighted potential constitutional implications, saying NI could be "symbolically separated" from the rest of the UK.It also highlighted potential constitutional implications, saying NI could be "symbolically separated" from the rest of the UK.
One year on from the changes coming into effect, the NI Chambers of Commerce found that a very high proportion of members had experienced increases in prices of goods and services and the amount of time taken to transport goods.One year on from the changes coming into effect, the NI Chambers of Commerce found that a very high proportion of members had experienced increases in prices of goods and services and the amount of time taken to transport goods.
Brexit: The NI Protocol and its economic impactBrexit: The NI Protocol and its economic impact
Brexit: One year on, the economic impact is starting to showBrexit: One year on, the economic impact is starting to show
'There will be no checks on goods going from GB to NI, or NI to GB' - 8 December 2019'There will be no checks on goods going from GB to NI, or NI to GB' - 8 December 2019
In December 2019, Mr Johnson said this on Sky News in response to a question about the warnings in the leaked Treasury document.In December 2019, Mr Johnson said this on Sky News in response to a question about the warnings in the leaked Treasury document.
But, as we reported at the time, his dismissal of the document's main findings ran counter to the facts of the NI deal.But, as we reported at the time, his dismissal of the document's main findings ran counter to the facts of the NI deal.
Parts of the Treasury document are now out of date (the possibility that tariffs or taxes could be charged on many goods crossing from GB to NI, for example, was removed by the signing of the new EU-UK free trade agreement in December 2020).Parts of the Treasury document are now out of date (the possibility that tariffs or taxes could be charged on many goods crossing from GB to NI, for example, was removed by the signing of the new EU-UK free trade agreement in December 2020).
But it set out clearly that there would be a range of bureaucratic measures affecting GB-NI trade, including customs declarations, food safety checks, security checks, and regulatory checks on product standards.But it set out clearly that there would be a range of bureaucratic measures affecting GB-NI trade, including customs declarations, food safety checks, security checks, and regulatory checks on product standards.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), says that between 1 January 2021 and 20 March 2022 various checks (whether on documents or physical inspections) were carried out at NI ports on:The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), says that between 1 January 2021 and 20 March 2022 various checks (whether on documents or physical inspections) were carried out at NI ports on:
157,349 consignments of food157,349 consignments of food
7,484 consignments of live animals7,484 consignments of live animals
147 consignments were refused entry147 consignments were refused entry
And this was despite a series of "grace periods" - during which the full implementation of EU rules was temporarily suspended to allow businesses to get used to the new way of trading.And this was despite a series of "grace periods" - during which the full implementation of EU rules was temporarily suspended to allow businesses to get used to the new way of trading.
'It is fully compatible with the Good Friday agreement' - 19 October 2019'It is fully compatible with the Good Friday agreement' - 19 October 2019
Boris Johnson asserted this in response to a question in Parliament from the DUP's Nigel Dodds who said the protocol "drives a coach and horses through the Belfast Agreement" and urged Mr Johnson to reconsider the plan.Boris Johnson asserted this in response to a question in Parliament from the DUP's Nigel Dodds who said the protocol "drives a coach and horses through the Belfast Agreement" and urged Mr Johnson to reconsider the plan.
He reminded the prime minister that he had told the DUP conference in 2018 that "no British Conservative government could or should sign up" to an arrangement with regulatory checks and customs controls between GB and NI.He reminded the prime minister that he had told the DUP conference in 2018 that "no British Conservative government could or should sign up" to an arrangement with regulatory checks and customs controls between GB and NI.
What is the Good Friday Agreement?What is the Good Friday Agreement?
On 11 May 2022, at a press conference in Sweden, Mr Johnson said that the Good Friday Agreement meant that "things have got to command cross-community support. Plainly the Northern Ireland Protocol fails to do that and we need to sort it out".On 11 May 2022, at a press conference in Sweden, Mr Johnson said that the Good Friday Agreement meant that "things have got to command cross-community support. Plainly the Northern Ireland Protocol fails to do that and we need to sort it out".
The protocol has a consent mechanism that means assembly members are asked to vote on it. The first consent vote is due in 2024.The protocol has a consent mechanism that means assembly members are asked to vote on it. The first consent vote is due in 2024.
'If somebody asks to do that, tell them to ring up the prime minister and I will direct them to throw that form in the bin' - 8 November 2019'If somebody asks to do that, tell them to ring up the prime minister and I will direct them to throw that form in the bin' - 8 November 2019
Mr Johnson was asked by an NI businessman whether he could tell his staff that they wouldn't have to complete customs declarations for goods going from NI to GB. Mr Johnson said he could.Mr Johnson was asked by an NI businessman whether he could tell his staff that they wouldn't have to complete customs declarations for goods going from NI to GB. Mr Johnson said he could.
At the time, the terms of the protocol suggested export declarations would have to be filled in - a point acknowledged by then Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.At the time, the terms of the protocol suggested export declarations would have to be filled in - a point acknowledged by then Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay.
In subsequent negotiations, though, the the need for formal NI-GB customs forms was waived - so this part of the prime minister's promise was met.In subsequent negotiations, though, the the need for formal NI-GB customs forms was waived - so this part of the prime minister's promise was met.
'There will be no border down the Irish Sea… over my dead body' - 13 August 2020'There will be no border down the Irish Sea… over my dead body' - 13 August 2020
In August 2020, Mr Johnson made this pledge - one he's repeated several times.In August 2020, Mr Johnson made this pledge - one he's repeated several times.
But you don't have to have passport controls and officers wearing peaked caps to qualify as a border.But you don't have to have passport controls and officers wearing peaked caps to qualify as a border.
NI is being treated differently than the rest of the UK for the trade in goods, as the protocol said it would be. So, there is a trade border in the Irish Sea.NI is being treated differently than the rest of the UK for the trade in goods, as the protocol said it would be. So, there is a trade border in the Irish Sea.
The DUP is deeply unhappy about this, and has adopted the slogan "No border in the Irish Sea".The DUP is deeply unhappy about this, and has adopted the slogan "No border in the Irish Sea".
What have the UK and the EU said since?What have the UK and the EU said since?
Boris Johnson says the EU has been too strict in its interpretation of the protocol by sticking to the letter of the law. In July 2021, he issued his proposals for change. Boris Johnson says the EU has been too strict in its interpretation of the protocol by sticking to the letter of the law. In July 2021, he issued his proposals for change. and in June 2022 he published a bill to alter it.
He wants to dispense with a lot of the checks the agreement creates, and rely on the honesty of businesses to make sure that no EU rules are being broken.He wants to dispense with a lot of the checks the agreement creates, and rely on the honesty of businesses to make sure that no EU rules are being broken.
The EU says it has tried to show some flexibility and has come up with its own plans to reduce checks, but they would not be dispensed with altogether.The EU says it has tried to show some flexibility and has come up with its own plans to reduce checks, but they would not be dispensed with altogether.
When it comes to changing the actual treaty, the EU is resolute. European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said: "The protocol, as a cornerstone of the [Brexit] withdrawal agreement, is an international agreement. Its renegotiation is not an option." The European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic says: "The European Union will not renegotiate the Protocol". The EU is now considering taking legal action against the UK government.
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