Government should deal with NI Protocol, DUP Leader says

DUP leader Arlene Foster has urged the Government to deal with the "rupturing" of the east west relationship caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

On Monday a debate at Westminster triggered by her party's e-petition will ask the Government to take action to replace this "flawed and deeply damaging" Protocol.

The DUP has vowed to overthrow the post-Brexit trade mechanism which has disrupted trade from the rest of the UK to Northern Ireland.

Mrs Foster said: "There is no question of the public anger towards the Protocol. The petition demonstrated that.

"Brussels and London must work for a permanent solution. Temporary measures will not work.

On Monday, Parliament will debate the e-petition she tabled calling for the triggering of Article 16 which allows the Government to override the protocol and ensure unfettered trade from GB-NI.

More than 140,000 have signed the petition, with the 100,000-signature threshold for a debate surpassed in just over 24 hours.

Mrs Foster said: "The European Union and the Government must recognise that to press on with the Protocol with every single unionist party opposed to it will lead to failure.

"Every agreement involving Northern Ireland has always required the consent of all sides. Consensus has been our watchword."

The EU moved to trigger Article 16 over the distribution of vaccines but quickly reversed its decision.

Mrs Foster said: "The European Union claim their triggering of Article 16 was 'a mistake' but to close their eyes to unionist opposition to this Protocol will be another mistake.

"The Prime Minister must work for a permanent solution before the end of the grace periods when even greater disruption will become apparent.

"There needs to be unfettered trade from GB-NI."