May 15, 2022
3 mins read

‘Restore power sharing agreement in Northern Ireland’

The PM will update party leaders on the UK Government’s discussions with EU leaders over recent days, in which the EU have confirmed that they will never change their current negotiating mandate….reports Asian Lite News

The Northern Ireland power sharing institutions must get back up and running so that they can start delivering on the issues that matter for the people of Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister will tell party leaders this week.

Delivering a “tough message” in private meetings on his first visit to Belfast since the Assembly elections, the Prime Minister is expected say that – while the UK government will “play its part to ensure political stability” – any action to fix the Protocol must result in all parties coming together to form and Executive and Assembly.

Drawing on his time as Mayor of London, he will say that there is “no substitute for strong local leadership”. Legislators must “get back to work” so that they can deal with the “bread and butter issues” like supporting families with the cost of living, cutting covid backlogs and fighting crime.

In his meetings with party leaders, the Prime Minister will also guarantee the delivery of three pre-existing commitments to Northern Ireland in the “coming weeks” including: Taking forward the Language and Culture Package agreed as part of the New Decade, New Approach, Intervening to deliver abortion regulations and place a duty on the Department of Health, so that women and girls have access to services that are their legal right and Introducing new measures to deal with the legacy of the past, with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland setting out more detail in the coming days and weeks.

The PM will update party leaders on the UK Government’s discussions with EU leaders over recent days, in which the EU have confirmed that they will never change their current negotiating mandate.

He will tell party leaders “that we will always keep the door open to genuine dialogue” however “there will be a necessity to act” and protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement if the EU does not change its position.

The PM will make clear that the government has never suggested scrapping the Protocol. There will always have to be a treaty governing the UK’s relationship with the EU in respect of Northern Ireland in order to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland and protect the integrity of the EU single market.

Instead, the Protocol needs to be reformed so that it delivers on its initial objectives to protect the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions.

He will say that there is “no disguising the fact” that the delicate balance of the Agreement has been upset by the Protocol, because one strand of the Agreement (North-South) has taken precedent over another (East-West).

This undermines the text of the Agreement, which makes clear that all strands are of “interlocking and of equal importance”. It has eroded the historic economic bonds which link Great Britain and Northern Ireland and resulted in the Unionist community feeling like its aspirations and identity are threatened.

The UK and EU’s “shared objective” should be for a reformed Protocol to enjoy “the broadest possible cross-community support” when it faces a consent vote in 2024, he will say.

ALSO READ: China forbids citizens from ‘non-essential’ overseas travel

Previous Story

UAE Elects New President

Next Story

Gears Up To Greet Centennial 2071

Latest from -Top News

No Deal: EU Holds Line on China Sanctions

EU stated the sanctions were a response to involvement in “serious human rights violations in China…reports Asian Lite News The European Union has decided not to lift sanctions imposed on Chinese officials

India Slams BBC Over Pahalgam Coverage

Several social media users pointed out that the BBC’s headline appeared misleading, giving the impression as if “India killed the tourists.”…reports Asian Lite News India has written to a leading British public

Financial Turmoil Grips Bangladesh

The crisis emerged with the political transition after the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following a violent uprising last year….reports Asian Lite News Bangladesh is grappling with an economic crisis

Hamas Meets Turkish FM Over Gaza Crisis

The delegation briefed Hakan on the latest developments regarding the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the delegation’s recent visit to Cairo….reports Asian Lite News A Hamas delegation met with Turkish Foreign
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Jamie Oliver pulls ‘offensive’ children’s book from sale 

Publisher Penguin Random House UK said that a consultation with

Coronation set to boost economy

The Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates a £337