Eastwood: Protocol offer is new DUP leader’s first test

SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood has called on the new DUP Leader to support the sensible solution being offered on the Northern Ireland protocol that would automatically remove 80% of checks overnight.

On the BBC’s Andrew Marr programme on Sunday morning, EU Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič made clear that the EU were willing to sign up to a Swiss-style veterinary agreement with the UK, aligning standards and removing checks.

In response, Mr Poots gave a knee jerk dismissal of this offer, saying it only offered a ‘temporary’ solution – despite the fact that a similar solution has been operating between Switzerland and EU countries for over 12 years.

Mr Eastwood said embracing this solution and resolving the tensions around the protocol would finally allow politics in Northern Ireland to get back to “people’s real priorities” which were not “customs checks in the Irish sea, but the constant crisis in our hospital waiting lists”.

Said the Foyle MP: “The European Commission is now publicly offering the sensible solution of a veterinary agreement, similar to the deal which already operates between EU countries and Switzerland.

“We know this Swiss-style deal would automatically remove 80% of the protocol checks overnight.

“This is exactly the solution the SDLP has been calling on for months.

“On Sunday morning, Edwin Poots described this sensible solution as only offering a ‘temporary’ fix, but as usual the facts result in his arguments falling apart.

“The current EU-Swiss deal has been operating since January 2009 – 12 years ago.

“By describing this solution as temporary, Edwin Poots is either ill-informed or he is deliberately ignoring the solution in front of him.

“This offer on the Protocol is the first key test for the new DUP leadership. Edwin Poots has a choice – he can either work with us on this sensible solution or he can continue down the path of division, threats and political deadends.

“He needs to carefully reflect on that choice, because real leadership means focusing on healing divisions across our whole community, not just obsessing on divisions within his own political party.

“This offer is now an opportunity to finally resolve the issues around the protocol and allow us all to get back to the real issues that people in Northern Ireland need us to focus on.

“The truth is that the real priority for people is not customs checks in the Irish Sea, it is the constant crisis of hospital waiting lists.

“Working together to put in place a plan, and pressing the Sinn Fein Finance Minister to provide a proper budget, to reduce hospital waiting lists will remain the SDLP’s number one priority in the weeks and months ahead.”

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