Northern Ireland Protocol six months on: Committee to take stock of progress

13 July 2021

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee takes stock of progress on the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol when it hears from the sectors most affected since it came into force in January.

Witnesses

Thursday 15 July 2021

At 9.30am

Victor Chestnutt, President, Ulster Farmers Union
Aodhán Connolly, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium
Sarah Hards, Business Development Manager, AMNexday
Stephen Kelly, CEO, Manufacturing NI
Riccardo Tonelli, Director of Operations, North Sea and Irish Sea, P&O Ferries and General Manager, Port of Larne

Representatives from agriculture, retail, haulage, manufacturing and shipping will also update the Committee on emerging problems following Brexit at the 15 July evidence session.

Some of the organisations attending the session gave evidence to the Committee’s NI Protocol Inquiry in January when they experienced a variety of issues that included delivery delays and regulatory checks as the new UK-EU relationship kicked-off.

Businesses face further uncertainty from the looming end of grace periods for checks on certain products that enter NI under the terms of the Protocol. Most recently, the grace period on checks for chilled meats, such as sausages and mince, due to begin on 1 July was extended to October. Although food suppliers and retailers welcomed the measure, they still seek the certainty of a permanent solution.

The Northern Ireland Protocol was negotiated by the EU and the UK Government to ensure an open border on the island of Ireland by creating a trade border in the Irish Sea. It means that while Northern Ireland will still be part of the UK market, it will have to continue to follow EU rules for goods.

Further information

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