Mid and East Antrim Council tonight passed a motion, proposed by DUP Councillor Gregg McKeen and seconded by TUV Ballymena Councillor Matthew Armstrong, affirming its opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The motion was passed by 29 votes to 10 with all Unionists supporting the motion and Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance voting against.
In his speech Councillor Armstrong called for all staff to be pulled from the Sea Border.
The text of Councillor Armstrong’s comments is as follows:
“The motion before us is of fundamental importance to this council, our borough and our citizens
“I was elected first and foremost as a Unionist, one who believes that economically, socially and culturally we in Northern Ireland are better off remaining within the family of nations which make up the United Kingdom.
“Indeed, it is not often that issues of constitutional significance come before any council chamber, but that is the case tonight.
“It is the case because no Unionist or Unionist Party ought to be complicit in the dismantling of our Union.
“It is also the case, of course, because this council are in control of personnel whose job it is – through no fault of their own – to carry out checks and help other agencies to do so in the name of the Northern Ireland protocol
“The Protocol which has caused shortages in our shops
“The Protocol which has caused disruption to consumers.
“The Protocol which has wreaked havoc in the haulage industry.
“The Protocol which has caused businesses to lose money hand over fist, leaving many to wonder if they will have a future as a viable business at all.
“Critically, the Protocol which economically and constitutionally is cyanide to the Union.
“I know there are those in this council who want to hide from the fact that they campaigned for the ‘rigorous implementation’ of the Protocol.
“I know there are those who would rather engage in ‘he said she said’ reports akin to the farcical £50,000 frittered by Belfast City Council just recently.
“I know there are those who would have us believe that peace, and the survival of the single market depends on the presence of various officials in Larne to make sure that neither British soil nor sausages make their way from Cairnryan unhindered.
“But I disagree.
“This is an issue of the gravest importance, not least because republicanism recognises the untold damage it is causing. Why else would they be so enthusiastic about it, and why after a campaign of 40 years and more of trying to bring Northern Ireland to its knees are we to believe that they will care a jot about business going to the wall as long as it advances the cause of their fairytale Ireland?
“It is also important to remember that rightly, the protocol is being challenged in the courts on the basis that it breaches the Act of Union and the sacred text of the Alliance party – the Belfast Agreement.
“I trust it will be found to be illegal. Time will tell.
“But regardless, I do not want to see workers withdrawn because of threats or alleged threats. I want to see them withdrawn as an act of political will by both the Agriculture Minister and this Council.
“Talk of longer lead-in times, grace periods and derogation is quite simply fiddling while the Union burns.
“I will not stand by and allow this to happen on my watch. I want all council and other workers away from the Sea Border. It was, is and always will be unacceptable to me and my party.
“If this motion sets in train a sequence of events that ultimately gets us to that place then as far as I am concerned, the sooner the better.
“Failure to try would be a gross dereliction of duty to the people of this Borough, both economically and constitutionally.
“I second the motion, Mr Mayor, and trust it will receive the backing it deserves.”