Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister has led calls for an emergency Executive meeting following Agriculture Minister Gordon Lyons’ decision to halt progress setting up customs facilities.
Nichola Mallon accused Lyons of a “solo run” after he announced he had ordered staff to stop building work, recruitment, and the implementation of customs charges.
“I’ve now activated the ‘Three Minister Rule’ to call an urgent Executive meeting tonight. DUP Minister Gordon Lyons’ solo run on this cross-cutting and controversial issue is unacceptable,” she said.
“…I have requested an urgent meeting of the Executive this evening to address the unilateral action taken by Minister Gordon Lyons.
“This is a five-party Executive facing two significant crises – a global pandemic and the impact of Brexit.
We should be taking decisions together in the substantial common interests of the people we represent – not using political office for divisive stunts.
“This decision is controversial, cross-cutting and cannot be put into effect without Executive agreement.”
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Social Democratic and Labour Party leader Colum Eastwood added: “Over the course of the last few months, the SDLP has been working hard to resolve the challenges faced by businesses as a result of post-Brexit changes to trading relationships.
“We have put our shoulders to the wheel to explore new opportunities and maximise the benefits of the new settlement. We have done so in a spirit of cooperation and partnership.
It is deeply concerning that DUP Ministers are actively trying to sabotage the arrangements and inject further uncertainty into a difficult situation for local businesses to suit their own narrow political interests.
“The DUP cannot pick and choose which duties and obligations of Executive leadership it wants to adhere to.”
‘More stunts from the DUP’
Northern Ireland’s Agriculture Committee chairman Declan McAleer branded the move as “more stunts from the DUP”.
“As chair of the AERA Committee, I have sought an urgent meeting with the DAERA permanent secretary to discuss the implications of this decision for workers, east-west trade, the legal obligations to implement the protocol and our international reputation as a place to do business with,” he said.
I am also concerned about the implications of this decision on the contract to build these new facilities with the consequent impact for construction workers and the fact that the current temporary facilities are ill-equipped for the needs of hauliers, drivers and others involved in the export and imports.
More to follow on this breaking story.