Statement by TUV spokesperson Keith Ratcliffe:
“The contradictory and befuddled comments of Doug Beattie in relation to the Protocol in recent days do a gross disservice not just to Unionism but to business. It is a basic job of public representatives to ensure that business is permitted to thrive yet after the best part of a quarter of a century in business I can testify first hand that the Protocol is causing real challenges and driving up prices for the consumer in Northern Ireland.
“Vehicles coming from Great Britain to this part of the U.K. requires declarations to be completed by the transport provider, the owner of the business and additional paper work done by the accountant agencies. All of this takes a considerable amount of time and results in additional cost which must be either absorbed by the business or passed on to customers in Northern Ireland.
“It is no coincidence that the price of goods from Great Britain in Northern Ireland has increased substantially. It is my view that the general public don’t realise the extra expense that has been put on businesses with paper work and having to employ extra staff.
“The core issues with the Protocol from a Unionist perspective will always be constitutional but one cannot ignore the considerable burden which it is on day to day business.”