Asked by: Hilary Benn (Labour - Leeds South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with reference to his oral contributions of 10 March 2021, if he will set out the temporary operational measures that the Irish Government took in January 2021 in respect of the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Robin Walker
In January of this year, the Irish Government implemented a temporary easement for businesses experiencing difficulties in lodging entry summary declarations for roll on roll off goods movements.
The UK Government remains committed to meeting our obligations in the Protocol in the pragmatic and proportionate way intended - taking account of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement in all its dimensions, North-South and East-West. It is common trade practice - adopted by countries internationally - to temporarily delay the implementation of certain obligations for sensible practical and operational reasons. The steps taken by the Government on 3 March were about taking additional time to adapt to new requirements.