Following a visit to the Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, said the clear message he got from the community and business leaders he spoke to was that they want to see deal passed by MPs at Westminster.

Mr. Barclay was visiting Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH), which is situated on both sides of the border last Friday, as part of a UK wide tour to hear from businesses and communities about the practical issues around Brexit.

“I think here is absolutely a very good illustration of a business that straddles the border and has high frequency movements, that has staff from both sides of the community and is a major employer therefore of significance to the community and to a certain extent at the heart of the issues in terms of a border and how we mitigate against some of the concerns and how we ensure we abide by the Good Friday Agreement and the commitments we have given so that was very much why,” explained Mr. Barclay.

“Firstly the clear message from the community and business leaders I have spoken to was that they want a deal. They want to see the deal to go through and I think no one has fought harder for that deal than the Prime Minister and in terms of her personal commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and the commitments that she has made.

“We have got the Withdrawal Agreement Bill which we will be bringing back to the House week commencing June 3. It’s my commitment, the commitment of the Cabinet to ensure we deliver that and that includes ensuring we abide by the commitment we made to avoid a Border.”

A threat to a return to violence around the Border has shadowed the who Brexit debate with many saying that if a hard border is put in place and the Brexit Secretary stressed why accepting Teresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement is vital to maintain peace.

“I think the prize of peace was very hard wo It was hard won by people in all parties working thoegethe I think there is an overriding sense from all section of the community that they want to see that safeguarded and I think that’s why there is so much frustration that parliament isn’t backing a deal that allows this community and the country as a whole to move forward.”

And Mr. Barclay was also very clear that even in the vent of a no-deal, it was important that a hard border be avoided.

“If we are unable to secure a deal and we therefore have the issue of no deal then UK Governemnt has been very clear, the Irish Government has been very clear, the (European) Commission has been clear that no one wants to see a hard border I don’t think it would work. I think any infrastructure on the Border would become a target and so I think there is a clear commitment from all parties that that doesn’t happen.”

Speaking following the visit, QIH CEO, Liam McCaffrey said: “QIH was very pleased to have the opportunity to articulate at first hand our concerns about a hard border to two of the key politicians charged with delivering Brexit. Our key message was that three years post the Brexit vote it is deeply worrying that we remain locked in a cycle of ongoing uncertainty that is doing little to allay this community’s concerns about the potentially devastating impact of a hard border.

“We were encouraged that our visitors spent over two hours listening to company and staff concerns. They depart Northern Ireland with a much clearer sense of what is at stake for this community and of the need for a renewed sense of urgency in delivering a meaningful breakthrough centred around a soft border.”