Ulster Unionist Party Deputy Leader and Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs spokesperson Robbie Butler MLA has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to urgently reassess the scale, cost, and necessity of the Border Control Posts (BCPs) at Belfast, Larne, Foyle, and Warrenpoint, warning that wasting taxpayer money, whether from Westminster or Stormont, is unacceptable.

Mr. Butler said:“Taxpayer money is not limitless, and it is the fundamental responsibility of any Executive Minister to ensure it is spent efficiently and delivers real value. Whether the funding comes from London or Belfast, I will always challenge the wasting of public funds on projects that no longer reflect current realities."

He continued: “Northern Ireland has faced significant challenges since Brexit, but the reality is that UK-EU relations are shifting. The recent reset deal between the Government and the EU has eased some of the trade friction; however, for farmers, agri-food producers, and machinery traders, there remains much to do. With these changes, it is time to ask if these large, resource-hungry border posts are still justified at their current scale.”

BCPs, designed to carry out checks on goods entering Northern Ireland, have been described as “hugely costly” and “resource intensive” by Mr. Butler, who questioned whether they still represent value for money.

“Historically, Northern Ireland has always maintained port checks and balances. But with greater cooperation now emerging between jurisdictions, these mega-scale posts look more and more like an unnecessary drain on public finances. I have asked the Minister what engagement DAERA has had with DEFRA to halt, slow, or scale back these projects before even more taxpayer money is poured into them.”

Mr. Butler stressed the need for fiscal responsibility: “At a time when budgets are stretched to breaking point, we must ensure every pound of public money is delivering genuine value. If the case for these posts has weakened - as I believe it has - then we must act now to avoid waste and seek redirection of that funding into areas that deliver tangible benefits.

“With trade friction easing following the Government-EU reset deal, we must ensure public money is not wasted on infrastructure that no longer fits the current landscape. I expect the DAERA Minister to stand up for common sense, ensure value for taxpayers' money, and 'Stop The BCP White Elephants.'"