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Northern Ireland leaders have welcomed the achievement of a trade agreement between the UK and the EU before the end of the Brexit transition period.
Prime Minister Arlene Foster said the Stormont Executive has come together to support the need for a trade deal.
“This is the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the UK and the EU and in Northern Ireland we want to make the most of the opportunities that the new agreements provide for our local economy,” he said.
“A sensible trade agreement between the UK and the European Union was always the most favorable outcome for Northern Ireland.”
Full statement 👇👇https: //t.co/oaD9V7aKVl
– Arlene Foster # We will meet again (@DUPleader) Dec 24, 2020
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill said that the Executive as a whole will examine the details of the agreement.
“While we have clearly different political positions on leaving the EU, we all agree that no one is interested in leaving without an agreement, so this announcement is good news that will be welcomed across the island,” he said.
“As an Executive, now we will have to consider the details of the agreement because there will be many questions about what the agreement means for companies and citizens and it is important that they get that clarity.”
We voted against Brexit, they are imposing it on us against our will. Today’s deal will be welcomed throughout the island. The Good Friday Agreement has been protected, there will be no hardening of the border and there are protections for the economy of the entire island.
– Michelle O’Neill (@moneillsf) Dec 24, 2020
In a separate personal statement, Ms Foster said details of both the trade deal and other issues, including security, will be discussed.
“Given the Government’s Northern Ireland Protocol, a sensible trade agreement between the UK and the European Union was always the most favorable outcome for Northern Ireland,” he said.
“Moving forward, we will continue to work to seize the opportunities and address the challenges arising from the UK’s exit from the European Union.”
This is no cause for celebration – we have come up with the ‘worst option’ for the UK as a whole, for Northern Ireland we now have an Irish Sea border with loads of non-tariff barriers to be in place from 1st January. Nothing historical about it. @BrandonLewis @uuponline @BBCJayneMcC https://t.co/1YLDoAxYSE
– Steve Aiken OBE (@SteveAikenUUP) Dec 24, 2020
However, Ulster Unionist Party leader Steve Aiken said “there is no cause for celebration.”
“We have achieved a ‘less worst option’ for the UK as a whole; for Northern Ireland we now have an Irish Sea border with lots of non-tariff barriers to be installed from 1st January. Nothing historic about it, ”he said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the deal “will not undo the enormous damage caused by Brexit to Northern Ireland’s people, businesses and communities.”
“All this Brexit fantasy is a future that people here don’t want and didn’t vote for,” he said.
“An agreement is better than no agreement, but the best deal will always remain at the heart of the European Union.
“That is what our people voted in 2016, we all deserve a future that is no longer limited to the worst option.”
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