Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-
“Closer reading of yesterday’s Draft Agreement between the UK and the EU reveals that, in addition to its obvious betrayal of pledges hitherto made by HMG, notably on fishing, and its direction of travel towards accepting what Mrs May said no Prime Minister could ever accept, in terms of abandoning Northern Ireland to the laws and control of the EU, the document has taken huge liberties in terms of expanding mandatory north-south cooperation.
“While riddled with exaggerated reference to the Belfast Agreement (which, in fact, had virtually nothing to say about the EU) and professed deference to its terms, this Agreement takes audacious steps to expand the ambit of North/South cooperation and with it the influence of EU law.
“I refer in particular to Art 8 of the ‘Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland’ (page 112). Here we find a paragraph – fittingly in green – which apparently has already been agreed by the DUP supported UK Government. It decrees areas which “in full respect of Union law” will be subject to North-South cooperation.
“These greatly and without mandate expand the 12 subject areas for cooperation specified in the Belfast Agreement. The additions are: energy, telecommunications, broadcasting, justice & security, higher education and sport.
“By the stealth of these negotiations, behind the backs of the people of Northern Ireland, the areas of cooperation required by the Belfast Agreement have been expanded under the aegis of the EU, with a new EU institution, a ‘Specialised Committee’ gifted oversight powers.
“Yesterday’s Agreement is set to radically undermine the integrity of the UK and if allowed to reach fruition will see Northern Ireland more aligned with the Republic than the UK. That, of course, is the goal of the EU, but it should not be aided by HMG.”