Members of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have traded political blows after receiving an update around Brexit, with the Northern Ireland Protocol taking centre stage.

During a meeting of the Brexit Committee, the single aspect not dividing the chamber was discontent with the current position. How it was reached however, was reduced to an all-out, gloves-off  blame game.

The Trade Agreement signed on Christmas Eve became law days later through the Future Relationship Bill. The Protocol keeps Northern Ireland within the EU Single Market with customs applying to goods, including movements to and from Britain, although a short grace period is allowing some flexibility.

The Agreement covers cooperation on law enforcement but won’t replicate the EU cross-border mechanisms, although a new framework will be established.

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Sheamus Greene felt the situation is: “Even more disastrous that originally thought. Companies are complaining about getting back to Ireland, bringing freight one way and not the other. Some fear going out of business. For farmers, the worst is yet to come. This is what Brexit has brought us.”

He added: “We are now waiting 12 months for the DUP to produce their (Brexit) expert who was very vocal but is now extremely shy. There is still no sign of him.”

Describing Brexit as: “Nothing short of a disaster” party colleague Councillor Chris McCaffrey said: “You would need a degree to get through the red tape. An utterly foolish thing has been done and anyone who supported Brexit is now seeing buyer’s remorse.”

Councillor Bert Wilson, Ulster Unionist pointed out people voted to leave: “But the politicians have let them down … We have representation in Westminster, but they must have been sleeping to allow us to be in this position … Probably time will cure it, but we haven’t got time. It never should have happened to start with.”

Councillor Deborah Erskine, Democratic Unionist defended voting ‘Leave’ but stressed: “Unfortunately this isn’t the Brexit I hoped for, because of the Protocol. We voted against it and consistently warned the Government. We’re living with the consequences. We warned other parties, yet they all called for the rigorous implementation of the Protocol. No DUP MP or MLA advocated for this Protocol.”

Independent Councillor Bernice Swift referenced chaotic scenes of backlogged lorries awaiting customs clearance.

“This is insufferable bureaucracy and the delay has impacts,” she said.

“England’s difficulty is now our opportunity. External pressures have stretched the contradictions of partition to breaking point. The sensible and practical solution to this critical impasse is unification.”

Sinn Fein’s Councillor Stephen McCann stated: “I fear we are still to see the worst of Brexit. It’s astounding the DUP are still trying to blame everyone else. The Protocol is due to Brexit, which they championed. A new border in Ireland would have been a disaster. It’s time we understand that our interests were never served in Westminster.”

The SDLP’s Councillor Adam Gannon pointed to a Department for Economy loss of £70 million in EU structural funds which will have: “Significant and negative consequences, economically and societally.”

Councillor Catherine Kelly, Sinn Fein said: “For the DUP to claim the Protocol is the problem is like the Trump administration of alternative realities. The difficulties have been caused by Brexit, which the DUP supported.”

Immediately she concluded, Councillor Errol Thompson, Democratic Unionist Group Leader said: “No regrets.”

Re-joining Councillor Wilson remarked: “I thought this was the Brexit Committee, but it seems to be a political meeting. I didn’t come her to listen to anti-British talk.”

Sharping interrupting, Councillor Bernice Swift said: “Yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s ridiculous. Brexit is political. ”

The Chair cautioned against cutting in, stating Councillor Wilson was entitled to express his view.

Councillor Swift retorted: “Once yes, but twice?”

Councillor McCafferty said: “Brexit is a political issue caused by one party who purposefully and decisively ignored the democratically expressed will of the people in the six counties.”

Responding to this attack, Councillor Erskine said: “It’s being made out the DUP caused Brexit. It was a democratic vote. Yes, we advocated to leave, but it doesn’t mean you had to be a DUP member to vote.”