Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“Today I have received official confirmation from the Minister of Agriculture that the Sea Border remains firmly in place.
“Despite the deceptive spin of Sir Jeffery it is clear that the Government came no where near fulfilling his Seven Tests. In his famous dystopian novel 1984 Orwell remarks that, “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”
“Today one can only buy the DUP spin by adopting a similar approach.
“Minister Muir makes clear that the EU official control regulation which treat Northern Ireland as EU territory and Great Britain as a Third or foreign Country remains in place.
“Well might those who want to see an all-Ireland economy say, “Well done, Jeffrey!”
Note to editors
Mr Allister’s question and Minister Muir’s response are as follows:
AQW 5520/22-27
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what
plans exist to dismantle the border posts at ports, following the publication
of the Command Paper 1021, Safeguarding the Union.
There are no plans to dismantle the current Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)
inspection facilities at Northern Ireland ports, as they are required to facilitate
necessary checks on SPS goods moving into Northern Ireland from Third
Countries as set out in the Official Controls Regulation and as explained in the
Command Paper 1021, Safeguarding the Union.
ANDREW MUIR MLA
Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs