NI Protocol Bill continues to spark divided reactions

Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA Deborah Erskine insisted that the passage of the Bill is essential to the restoration of devolution.

Mrs. Erskine said: “The [NI] Protocol is impacting every aspect of life in Northern Ireland. It is increasing costs for consumers and reducing choice on the shelves. Even yet, it is impacting medicine supply in Northern Ireland, despite the EU rhetoric.

“The Bill coming through Parliament is the only route to restoring the equilibrium in Northern Ireland, which is essential for the restoration of devolution here.

"At the heart of the Belfast Agreement is the political reality that our political institutions can only operate effectively on the basis of a cross-community consensus.

"The Protocol is not supported by a single Unionist elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly. It is because of the harm done to that consensus that the political institutions are not functioning at this time."

She added: “It is in the interests of everyone who wants to see the Assembly and Executive properly functioning that the Protocol Bill passes through the legislative stages as quickly as possible.

"The [Bill's] second reading is another stage in that process, and it is welcome that it was passed with a significant majority.”

Jemma Dolan, Sinn Fein.

However, Sinn Féín MLA Jemma Dolan was adamant that the Protocol is working. She said: "The Protocol is working. Businesses are using the unique access to the EU and British markets to create jobs and attract investment.

"The Protocol is necessary. It protects us from the 'hard Brexit' the DUP and Tories championed.

"It gives the North unique access to both the EU and British markets. There is no cost to us being inside the Single Market, but enormous costs if we are not.”

She continued: “Workers and families in the North are struggling with rising living costs and especially now that diesel is more than £2 per litre [in parts of Northern Ireland].

"We need an Executive [functioning] now – one that is focused on tackling the cost of living crisis.

"There is money waiting to be spent on the crisis – more than £400 million pounds, in fact – money that can't be spent, because the DUP are blocking an Executive being formed.”

Miss Dolan added: “Sinn Féin are ready to get in there and work. The Alliance party, the UUP and the SDLP are ready to get in there and work.

"The DUP are not ready to get into an Executive to work, and the British government must stop giving them cover to block an Executive being formed."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol cleared its first Commons hurdle amid Tory warnings the plans are illegal.

MPs voted 295 to 221 – a majority of 74 – to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks.

Mr. Johnson claimed the proposed legislation, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, could be carried out “fairly rapidly”, with the proposals in law by the end of the year.

His government has claimed the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement, and peace and stability.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the Bill has a “strong legal justification” and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution.

However, the Bill and Westminster's stance have been heavily criticised by the EU, alongside the Republic of Ireland's and America's governments.