Assembly committee raises concerns with Lords

Both Committees have been communicating closely in recent weeks and Tuesday’s meeting was a further opportunity to focus attention on areas of mutual concern.

Speaking after the meeting, the Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Declan McAleer MLA, pictured, said: “We very much welcomed the opportunity to speak to members of the House of Lords EU Environment Sub Committee today.

“The Internal Market Bill and the mechanisms around how the agreed protocol will operate will have a marked impact on our agri-foods sector, on our people and within both our rural and urban communities. It is important that we continue to have a voice on these issues and an opportunity to relay and underline some of our continuing concerns.”

Mr McAleer continued: “Our meeting centred upon the importance of ensuring unfettered access between here and GB, the need for a definition of qualifying goods and for frictionless access for freight lorries delivering food to supermarkets. We also noted that we would urge that positive dialogue on these issues continue at meetings of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee.”

Mr McAleer concluded: “Our discussions today were productive, and we were heartened that the House of Lord’s Sub Committee understand and share many of our concerns, and that they have committed to working closely and proactively with us to ensure the best outcomes for our people.”

Lord Teverson, chair of the House of Lords EU Environment Sub-Committee said: “In July we voiced our concerns about the lack of meaningful Government engagement with agri-food businesses in Northern Ireland and urged ministers to start detailed discussions on proposals to implement the Protocol.

“It is vital, as our NI Assembly colleagues say, that the whole sector in Northern Ireland has a voice on the many complex issues at stake, to help to find effective solutions that will safeguard Northern Ireland’s unique trading position.”