Ulster Unionist Party Encourage Signing of Stormont Brake.
Speaking after the announcement that the Stormont Brake will be activated for the first time, Ulster Unionist Party member of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee (WF DSC), Dr. Steve Aiken OBE MLA, commented.
“The Ulster Unionist Party is encouraging all MLA’s to sign the call for the Stormont Brake to be applied to prevent the damaging EU regulation (Regulation 2024/2865) affecting the labelling of chemicals. That is because the safeguard process that should be the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee has demonstrably failed.
“Bizarrely, the committee which was supposed to prevent having to use the Stormont Brake, had ignored the implications of this regulation, despite the concerns of industry and its own advice.
“This regulation, if implemented, will create significant divergence, add considerable cost and may cut NI off from the rest of the UK in supplying a wide range of chemical products.
“It is in no one’s interest that this regulation is allowed to proceed.
“Coincidently, the same day that we are triggering the Stormont Brake, the EU has decided to waive checks on goods coming from GB to RoI, via Belfast and Larne, because of port capacity issues. It’s clear that the sanctity of the Single Market is only important when it applies to us and ignored when it pleases the EU.
“We should also note that, since its inception, one of the main safeguards for the people of Northern Ireland from the damaging impacts of trade divergence was supposed to be the Windsor Framework ‘Democratic’ Scrutiny Committee.
“By any definition it has been an abject failure as both the Sinn Fein and Alliance parties inbuilt majority have vetoed proper scrutiny and investigation; even when both the advice and evidence has shown that the application and implication of these EU rules would have significant and long lasting negative impacts on everyday life here.
“Bizarrely, some Alliance MLA’s on the committee even stated that they couldn’t vote for an inquiry because they didn’t understand the issue.
“In light of the continued failure of the WF DSC, the Ulster Unionist Party has no hesitation in supporting this first use of the Stormont Brake mechanism.
“Unless substantial reform occurs in how we scrutinise these EU regulations, this will not be the last time it’s triggered. We have warned both the EU and the Labour Government what the lack of proper management of the Windsor Framework would bring. It’s now time to pay proper attention to the concerns of the people of Northern Ireland rather than just paying lip service.”