Borders: Northern Ireland

(asked on 21st October 2020) - View Source

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have with the Northern Ireland Executive about the preparedness of ports of entry in Northern Ireland for the end of transition period.


Answered by
Viscount Younger of Leckie Portrait
Viscount Younger of Leckie
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 28th October 2020

Northern Ireland Office and Defra Ministers and officials continue to engage regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive as we get on with delivering the Protocol and preparing for the end of the transition period.

The Northern Ireland Executive and its relevant departments are critical partners and our engagement is intended to enhance understanding of approach and ensure appropriate planning.

We continue to support the Northern Ireland Executive on implementing the Northern Ireland Protocol in a way that minimises any frictions on the flow of agrifood trade and works for Northern Ireland businesses and citizens. This work includes providing support to deliver the sanitary and phytosanitary operational arrangements necessary post-transition, including all elements relating to the people, processes, IT and facilities at Northern Ireland Points of Entry.

We have already reached an in-principle agreement to fund the costs of implementing agrifood requirements in Northern Ireland, as part of our wider commitment in the New Decade, New Approach agreement to engage with the Executive on the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland and the Protocol as we examine funding options to support preparedness.

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