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DUP DELIBERATIONS ON the Windsor Framework will not be knocked off course by rhetoric and will instead be grounded in reality, the party leader has insisted.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged improvements had been made to post-Brexit Irish Sea trading arrangements for Northern Ireland but said questions remain about “core sectors of our economy”.
He reiterated that his party will take time to secure “clear answers” on aspects of the proposed arrangements they still have questions about.
His comments, contained in a message to party supporters, came as Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald again called on the DUP to lift its blockade on devolution in Northern Ireland and end the powersharing “limbo”.
McDonald and Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill met party activists in Belfast this morning to update them on the week’s developments.
The UK and EU are hoping their proposed framework to deliver changes to the contentious Northern Ireland Protocol will be enough to convince the DUP to return to devolved government.
While the DUP has made clear it will make a collective decision, factoring in views across the party, some prominent DUP figures including Sammy Wilson, Lord Dodds and Ian Paisley have already expressed concerns whether the changes to the Irish Sea trading arrangements go far enough to address their concerns over trade and sovereignty.
Sir Jeffrey updated party members and supporters in a message this morning.
The message, seen by the PA news agency, stated:
“This party will always stand up for Northern Ireland. Our rationale is to look at the long term and build a better Northern Ireland for the next generation.
“There are some who would say ‘yes’ to anything and others who would say ‘no’ to everything because they are more focused on where they have come from than where they are going.
“As the custodians of Northern Ireland’s future, however, we must carefully weigh up the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of each situation.
“Where improvements have been made, we will recognise progress and where questions remain, we will take the time to get clear answers.
In assessing the way ahead, we will not be knocked off course by rhetoric, but we will keep grounded in reality and judge the deal against our seven tests as set out in our 2022 manifesto.
Checks
The protocol created checks and processes on the movement of goods from GB into Northern Ireland.
The latest deal between London and Brussels seeks to remove many of those post-Brexit trade barriers, creating a new system for the flow of goods into Northern Ireland.
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In the message, Sir Jeffrey criticised rival parties at Stormont that had supported the implementation of the protocol.
“People said it couldn’t be done, but this party has proved that it could. Brussels came back to the table and changes have been made,” he said.
“Whilst we will study the fine print and take expert advice, improvements have been made especially regarding trade however questions remain over core sectors of our economy.
If the DUP had taken the same approach as Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party, Northern Ireland would be in a worse position today. They not only wanted the Protocol, they wanted it on steroids.
He added:
“Those pro-protocol parties were more focused on the EU’s interests than they were on Northern Ireland’s interests.”
Sinn Féin view
Speaking to the PA news agency at the party meeting in Belfast, Sinn Fein leader Ms McDonald said there was nothing to prevent the DUP returning to Stormont while it sought clarity on aspects of the framework.
“I think we need to be very careful here not to keep playing the politics of this long,” she said.
“Of course people need to work their way through the detail of this deal. We’re doing that, everybody needs to do that. We have consistently said that that can be done whilst the Assembly and the Executive is up and active and delivering for people.
“So we would encourage everyone, but particularly the DUP, to make their decision now, and to give people what they want and what they need, which is government.
Now, all of the matters that need clarification, can be clarified. But that really cannot be used as an excuse for no executive and no assembly. I think time has run out on that now.
She added:
“A return of government or return of the assembly, respecting the democratic verdict of all of the electorate, nationalists, republicans, unionists and loyalists also is a win for everyone.
What we have at the moment is the worst of all possible worlds, we have stalemate.
McDonald said the DUP returning to devolution was the “right and sensible thing” to do.
“For us, it is now all about getting government back up and running.
“We now have the negotiations concluded, there is a deal on the table, we are absolutely satisfied that it ensures no hardening of the border on the island, protection of the Good Friday Agreement, protection of the all-Ireland economy and of course, access to the European market, which is so essential for the economic opportunities here.
“And now it’s decision time. That is really it.”
Earlier today, Alliance leader Naomi Long warned that her party is willing to test the legality of Stormont’s “discriminatory” voting structures.
Addressing her party conference in Belfast this afternoon, Long expressed frustration that the UK and Irish governments had not moved to deliver reform of the powersharing institutions to release them from the unionist/nationalist “straitjacket” created by the Good Friday Agreement.
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@Brian: they are just putting in the infrastructure for the housing estates they are going to build in the park in years to come … The FF/SF coalition in the next government will solve the housing crisis….
An exclusive park, while removing parking may single handedly solve the world’s climate crisis it also hinders those who do not live within walking distance from using the park and it’s amenities with future bus facilities only benefiting certain parts of the city. The OPW must have met up with DCC for pints before implementing their strategy.
@The Green Monkey: I live on the other side of the city and traffic is always nuts around the park so if I want to go there I go to city centre and take a bus, or I cycle there. I don’t expect to be able to drive and park wherever I want, you should adopt a similar attitude.
@eoin fitzpatrick: No i disagree. I drive there from approx 5km away and bring my dogs. Am i not entitled to? I can’t bring them on a bike or bus. I’ve been going there for almost 50 years. Why am I punished? I thought the park was for everyone?
@Pat Redmond: That’s not much help to people here! On the other hand, I’ve met Irish senior citizens on buses because they can stay warmer in winter on a bus.
@eoin fitzpatrick: Go somewhere else ? Why should I? Im a good decent hard working person and The Phoenix park is a great place to get away from the stresses of my job in a hospital where i work long long hours. Why should I be deprived? Am i less worthy than a cyclist? The park is huge and allows space to not deal with large groups of people.
@Lilly Lalogue: it’s not for absolutely everyone . For those who comply with the rules . Are there no greens or park within your area to take your dog ? 5 and 10 Km walks aren’t that much once a week , but I suppose you will have an excuse for that Too
@Christy Dolan: Aww, so because it’s 5km away i need to be only walking my dogs in parks closest to me? I use this park to get away from the stresses of work and it’s easier to remove myself from people. And the park is for absolutely everyone, to say otherwise is discrimination. Who’s not entitled to the phoenix park?
More bus stops, more traffic lights equal more traffic equal bigger gridlocks. this gov is determined to make people so fed up with traffic that they will get rid of their cars and rely on public transport instead, this election can’t come sooner.
It’s all about exclusivity. Driving through the Park recently confirms my view. The lack of walkers was blatant evidence of pandering to the lucky few living within walking distance. Congratulations OPW ,fixing something that wasn’t broken.
@Donal Ronan: I haven’t disagreed with anyone but I’m sick of entitled motorists whingeing when people are trying to improve public transport, it has held the city back for long enough
@eoin fitzpatrick: Big bad entitled motorists! Awww, i mean there’s murderers and people committing serious crimes but it’s the car driver, who is working hard, paying their taxes, contributing to society, and having to drive due to long hours and rubbish transport that are the problem!? Wake up. If we’ve to accept all that’s being done for cyclists then cyclists can accept that people NEED and yes are ENTITLED to drive.
It is a joke and when the traffic intop and out of town for large parts of the northwest of the city and country.. Ask the councillor to come down and sort it out. Also the rise in polution will be horrific as has been seen in Lodon where they have done siimlar.They take half an idea from one place, Copenhagen or Holland usually and add it to anothe idea fron the UK or the USA and tell people it will work. In one wy they are right, it works for them for the 40 min a day they need it too. However it screws up the roads and access includingh the safety of everyone else.
Can someone do something about those bloody squirrels? My dog just keeps getting darned distracted and just won’t come back when called. Maybe a good auld cull?
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