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NEWS
TUESDAY JANUARY 9 2024
North can have dual market
access, Donaldson insists
JOHN MANLEY
S
IR Jeffrey Donaldson has been
accused
of
“dancing
on
the
head of a pin” after he again
stressed
that
Northern
Ire-
land can have dual market access – a
claim that seemingly contradicts the
opinion of one of his hardline MPs.
Quizzed
Sammy
on
recent
Wilson,
in
remarks
which
the
by
East
Antrim MP said the EU single market
and the UK single market were mutually exclusive, the DUP leader insisted both were possible with what
he termed “privileged access” to the
European trading bloc.
SDLP MP Claire Hanna
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris
message he said his aim was “safe-
they’re not willing to talk is simply
the denition of dual market access
guarding our place in the UK internal
not true,” he said.
when both are complicit in denying
In
the
DUP
leader’s
new
year
market both now and for the future,
“We
hope
whilst retaining our access to the EU
when
we
single market”.
what
further
He insisted these objectives were
“not mutually exclusive”.
meet
hear
them
from
this
progress
them
week
has
on
been
made.”
But Mr Wilson subsequently told
cussions were “of substance”.
ed from that objective,” he said.
both”.
“We can continue to trade with
“They are not some form of play
the EU on a privileged basis as we
“You can have pure access to the
to ensure that those businesses in
do at the moment for goods but we
EU market and compromised access
the region that trade with the EU can
can have our ability to trade with the
weeks
to the UK market”, or vice versa, “but
continue to do so.
rest of the United Kingdom properly
Northern Ireland’s place within the
restored,” he said.
UK and its internal market restored
that,” he aid.
Asked if this was what Mr Wilson
had characterised as “compromised
Sir Jeffrey also said that the DUP
access” to the EU single market, Sir
was still in talks with the British gov-
ority was restore the north’s place
Jeffrey
ernment,
“within the United Kingdom and its
“privileged access”.
Sir Jeffrey told the BBC his pri-
internal market”.
said
he
preferred
to
call
it
When pressed on whether access
“That’s what we said in our as-
to the UK and EU single markets was
sembly manifesto in 2022 – we have
mutually exclusive, the DUP leader
not at any stage, demurred or deviat-
said they were not.
serious
issues
working
and
all
the
other
facing,” she said.
acting,” he said.
“No credible business group sup-
“I want to make progress in the
ahead
families
so
that
we
can
see
ports further barriers to trade or can
stand over the huge job losses some
DUP reps are advocating.”
TUV leader Jim Allister disputed
and we have a sustainable basis for
Sir
restoring our political institutions.”
access” to the EU single market.
Jeffrey’s
negotiations
party was out of step with business
access, because it inevitably comes
groups. “It’s embarrassing listening
at the price of submitting to EU law,
“I will be talking to the UK gov-
to Jeffrey Donaldson and Sammy Wil-
the EU court and its Irish Sea bor-
ernment this week and the idea that
son dance on the head of a pin over
der,” he said.
Christmas
that
be
“privileged
missive
were over.
would
over
SDLP MP Claire Hanna urged the
Heaton-Harris
“It
claim
DUP to end its boycott, saying the
before
Secretary
address
of
Chris
though
to
in our health service, pay justice for
insisted
State
even
ernment
challenges that ordinary people are
However, he said he also wanted
you can’t have both. It’s as simple as
the people of Northern Ireland a gov-
public sector workers, childcare for
The Lagan Valley MP said the dis-
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
the News Letter that “you can’t have
to
access
better
or
called
even
sub-
purchased
Murphy says Dublin had no choice
but to challenge British legacy plan
A
FORMER
minis-
Johnston, the secretary of state chal-
He said the British government’s
ter has said the Irish gov-
Sinn
lenged Dublin to set out its own re-
approach to legacy has “been about
“I
ernment
cord on tackling legacy issues.
satisfying its own electoral interests”
state
and
the
was
Féin
left
with
no
choice but to challenge the
British
government’s
controversial
legacy plans.
Conor
after
Murphy’s
Chris
remarks
Heaton-Harris
came
wrote
Mr Heaton-Harris asked Mr Mar-
“motivated
by
its
own
back-
“need to be challenged”.
agree
that
Irish
the
secretary
of
double
standards
of
government
mounted in the Irish state since 1998
British
we
related to Troubles incidents.
volved in all sorts of activities here
ment are doing and continue to op-
over the course of the conict”.
pose this amnesty that they brought
to
The
Northern
Ireland
Ofce
the
UK
govern-
“The idea that they would contin-
forward in their legacy proposals, we
Martin questioning why the Dublin
agency that a letter had been issued
ue to ght and criticise others when
see the same approach taken by the
government was challenging British
formally
they are in the face of all opposition
Irish government, indeed over many
legacy
gret” at the interstate case.
from all of the parties here, all of the
years, and, as the secretary of state
victims’ organisations and from the
has pointed out, there have been no
Irish
prosecutions
European
Court of Human Rights.
Taoiseach
December
was
left
Leo
that
with
“no
“profound
re-
The letter criticises the timing of
Varadkar
his
registering
PA
what
news
the
the
opposed
(NIO)
in
to
in-
whilst
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál
legislation
conrmed
were
and,
issue
need
who
challenged,
this
benchers and their desire to protect
forces
be
on
tin to list the number of prosecutions
crown
to
with
the
said
in
administration
option”
but
to
mount a challenge.
the
Irish
government
decision,
de-
government,
They
were
doesn’t
never
surprise
intent
time” as efforts continue to restore
satisfying the needs of victims here,
who were involved in terrorist activi-
power-sharing.
they were intent on satisfying the re-
ty in their jurisdiction,” he said.
backed Mr Heaton-Harris’s challenge
bles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act
to the Irish government on its past
2023 breached the UN Convention on
record, while maintaining his party’s
prised that the British government
Human Rights.
opposition to the contentious West-
would
others”
left with no alternative but to take a
minster legacy plan.
while its legislation faced universal
case. Sir Jeffrey said the Irish govern-
opposition in Ireland.
ment’s “double standards” on legacy
to
Ireland
Paul
govern-
ment, no attempt to prosecute those
was that the Northern Ireland Trou-
ambassador
Irish
on
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
British
the
me…
He said the “strong” legal advice
In the correspondence issued by
by
scribing it as coming at a “delicate
Mr
Murphy
said
he
wasn’t
sur-
Conor Murphy
“ght
and
criticise
quirements of their own backbench-
Mr Martin said he was aware of
ers in relation to protection of their
the letter and would respond in due
own personnel,” he told the BBC.
course.
He said the Irish government was
Editorial P14