Northern Ireland Government ( Archived) (14)

Statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the resignation of the First Minister

Statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the resignation of the First Minister

From:
Northern Ireland Office
Published
3 February 2022

The decision by the DUP to withdraw the First Minister from the Northern Ireland Executive is extremely disappointing. I urge them to reinstate the First Minister immediately to ensure the necessary delivery of public services for the citizens of Northern Ireland.

The UK Government’s priority is to see a strong functioning Northern Ireland Executive delivering a better, more prosperous, shared future for all the people of Northern Ireland.

We want to continue to build on the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement’s promise of a stable, cooperative and respectful power sharing Executive.

The last two years since the New Decade, New Approach Agreement was reached has demonstrated the potential that can be unlocked when the Northern Ireland parties work together. We must not return to a state of political deadlock and inertia.

I recognise the impact the Northern Ireland Protocol is having on the ground. The UK Government has been clear for some time that the Protocol has been causing serious problems, unbalancing the delicate and hard-won political stability in Northern Ireland.

We remain fully committed to fixing the problems with the Protocol and to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions. We will continue our intensive talks with the EU in order to resolve these.

I will be speaking to the leaders of the five parties of the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Irish Government, to encourage a return to stable devolved government in Northern Irelan

Can someone explain this from the NI point of view.

Thankyou, all my NK friends

I don't see how a border running down the Irish Sea helps

A recent survey of businesses in NI put the protocol down the list of importance behind business costs, covid and staff shortages etc etc. There's one party causing the hassle and has the backing....or rather obeying the instructions... of loyalist paramilitaries.
That seems to be one mistake that was made when setting up the whole process... .. 1 side can hold the province to ransom...on either side
NI has the best of both worlds if it wants....can trade both UK and EU and could be one hell of a powerhouse if they played their cards right.
Last week the self destruct button was pressed....all that will do is bring NI back down to the level of the shambles that GB finds itself in.
Another thing escaping the minds up there is there is only a certain cohort down here that wants a united Ireland, a lot more think its premature and not all nationalists up there want it either so necks need reeling in. The only danger is SF could get in out of pure disillusionment with the shower that's making a mess of things down here for years.
DUP went against their own business people and farm unions pushing for the hard brexit and this is where they end up....pushed under the bus once the numbers were nt needed for a Westminster majority but they can't see that.
Its like a suck calf keeping going back to its mothers tit but the cow ignoring it

So the DUP withdrawing the first minister and his instruction not to check incoming goods, even though reversed almost immediately, was the self estruct button??

May I ask you to give your take on the Northern Ireland Protocol'

Thanks TC.

It was put in at the last minute to avoid a hard border on this island as to put one here would be in direct contravention of the Good Friday Agreement and break an international agreement. Now with the NIP there is a de facto border the other side but seems to be the best of a bad lot. Going to be next to impossible to square the circle of NIP and GFA but hard border here would be illegal.
Teresa Maye had it solved with her proposal of GB and NI staying in EU customs union but DUP among others kicked off. Her way meant no border and no checks anywhere.
Wonder if the checks were carried out on the "mainland" would it be as much in your face to the DUP...something has to be done but Article 16 is not the way...there seems to be some confusion as to the workings of Article 16 and some like to think its a way of tearing up the withdrawal agreement.
The GFA happened at a time when there wasn't much talk of UK leaving EU and I don't know if that would have been even considered

Just for further information but one side as bad as the other