Possibility of violence in Ireland over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Nilgiri

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DUP seems happy with this latest move by UK govt.

If all (these assurances and sovereignty exercises by UK w.r.t changing N.I protocol) proceeds as planned, will it mean DUP will enter some kind of power sharing deal (for the executive) with sinn feinn for current legislature term?

UK will also have to see off whatever legal actions EU brings to bear as result.
 

RogerRanger

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DUP seems happy with this latest move by UK govt.

If all (these assurances and sovereignty exercises by UK w.r.t changing N.I protocol) proceeds as planned, will it mean DUP will enter some kind of power sharing deal (for the executive) with sinn feinn for current legislature term?

UK will also have to see off whatever legal actions EU brings to bear as result.
Yes, however hardline Loyalist's won't accept anything more than the removal of the protocol in full. Politically this is a very good and positive, and also diplomatic move from Britain. Trying to give the Loyalists a way out and remain within the agreement. Of course the Irish are still talking nonsense about the actions of the British government 'breaking international law'. Shame it really is, the rhetoric and actions of this Irish government have done really damage to north-south relations. Not a chance the Unionists in the North would want to be forced into this Irish state which on the face of it has utter contempt for them and their wishes.

I expect the EU retaliation to be very minor to be honest, they don't really care about the NI issue, they care about the common market and free trade zone. So if the British can for the most part protect that, then they will accept it against the wishes of the Irish state and the Americans. It has however taken far too long for the British state to come up with this and a lot of political and economic damage has been done to the Union and to the political settlement in the North.
 

Nilgiri

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Yes, however hardline Loyalist's won't accept anything more than the removal of the protocol in full. Politically this is a very good and positive, and also diplomatic move from Britain. Trying to give the Loyalists a way out and remain within the agreement. Of course the Irish are still talking nonsense about the actions of the British government 'breaking international law'. Shame it really is, the rhetoric and actions of this Irish government have done really damage to north-south relations. Not a chance the Unionists in the North would want to be forced into this Irish state which on the face of it has utter contempt for them and their wishes.

I expect the EU retaliation to be very minor to be honest, they don't really care about the NI issue, they care about the common market and free trade zone. So if the British can for the most part protect that, then they will accept it against the wishes of the Irish state and the Americans. It has however taken far too long for the British state to come up with this and a lot of political and economic damage has been done to the Union and to the political settlement in the North.

Irish republic and SF feel/felt very emboldened and comfy by globalist EU leverage and the GFA advantages for them as well.

They felt slow boil frog situation would go on endlessly (this is common worldwide btw on number of issues).

That inertia/dependency plays out w.r.t Brexit being a sudden big wake up call and jarring reality...the DUP can harness all of this to get some exposure and clarity to benefit them.

International law (UN et al) is a very weak concept as there has long been no consistent and strong way of enforcing such things.

Country/National law is where the maximum relevancy exists for the world population....and will be for a very long time at the minimum.

So the UK if its willing..... will see off this international law wishy washy stuff....and I welcome that as I have never liked the large hypocrisy found in the prematurely top-down attempt (and results of) "international law" during the 20th century and ongoing.
 

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County Antrim: Four people escape injury in separate petrol bomb attacks​

3 days ago

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A petrol bomb was thrown through the living-room window of a house at Prospect Park

Four people, including a young child, have escaped injury after two separate petrol bomb attacks in County Antrim.

A petrol bomb was thrown through the living-room window of a house at Prospect Park, Carrickfergus at about 00:40 BST on Saturday.

A couple and their child were inside at the time.

Police say they were able to get the device out of the house and it has been taken away for further examination. Damage was caused to the living room.

During the second unrelated incident, petrol bombs were thrown at a woman's house in Glendun Close, Portrush at about 02:30 BST on Saturday.

The woman was not harmed but scorch damage has been caused to the front of the house and the main front door.

Firefighters also attended the scene alongside PSNI officers.

Police are appealing to those with information relating to both incidents to contact them.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-62191391
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News are a bit older by now... but is this an omen of things to come?
 

Blackbeardsgoldfish

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Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: Commission launches four new infringement procedures against the UK​


The European Commission has today (22/07/22) launched four new infringement procedures against the United Kingdom for not complying with significant parts of the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland. They come in addition to the infringement procedures launched on 15 June 2022.
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In more detail

The Commission has decided to launch four new infringement procedures against the UK in respect of Northern Ireland for, respectively:

  1. Failing to comply with the applicable customs requirements, supervision requirements and risk controls on the movement of goods from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. This significantly increases the risk of smuggling via Northern Ireland. For example, it opens the possibility for traders to circumvent EU rules on prohibitions and restrictions on the export of goods to third countries or provides possibilities for carousel trafficking of goods being declared for export in the EU and actually not exiting the customs territory via Northern Ireland. On 17 December 2020, the UK issued a unilateral declaration to ensure “unfettered access” for Northern Irish goods to move to the UK market. The EU agreed with the UK proposal to provide “equivalent” information through “alternative means” on a real time basis. To date, however, the UK does not collect the relevant export declaration data for goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. Nor does it provide information to the EU on these movements, making any supervision of those goods by Union representatives impossible.
  2. Failing to notify the transposition of EU legislation laying down general EU rules on excise duties, which will become applicable from 13 February 2023. Member States and the UK in respect of Northern Ireland were required to transpose this Directive and notify the Commission of their transposition measures by 31 December 2021. To date, the United Kingdom has failed to do so. Non-implementation of these rules poses a fiscal risk to the EU (i.e. excise duties not levied or levied at a lower rate than in the EU) in relation to movements of goods subject to excise duties to/from Northern Ireland.
  3. Failing to notify the transposition of EU rules on excise duties on alcohol and alcoholic beverages, which facilitate access for small and artisan producers to lower excise duty rates, among other provisions. Member States and the UK in respect of Northern Ireland were required to transpose this Directive by 31 December 2021. Non-implementation of these rules poses a fiscal risk to the EU (i.e. excise duties not levied or levied at a lower rate than in the EU) in relation to the excise duties to be paid on movements of alcohol and alcoholic beverages to/from Northern Ireland. Any divergence from EU harmonised excise duties would also distort competition in the supply of those goods within the Single Market.
  4. Failing to implement EU rules on Value Added Tax (VAT) for e-commerce, namely the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS). The IOSS is a special scheme that businesses can use since 1 July 2021 to comply with their VAT obligations on distance sales of imported goods. It allows suppliers and electronic interfaces selling imported goods not exceeding €150 to buyers in the EU to declare and pay the VAT via the tax authorities of one Member State instead of having to register in every Member State into which they sell. For EU consumers, this means a lot more transparency: when buying from either an EU or a non-EU seller or platform registered in the One Stop Shop, VAT is part of the price paid to the seller. To date, the UK in respect of Northern Ireland has not taken the necessary IT measures to implement the IOSS. This in turn poses a fiscal risk to the EU

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_4663
 
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UK strikes deal with EU over post-Brexit trade arrangements for N.Ireland​


UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says new deal alters Northern Ireland Protocol, now calling it 'new Windsor framework'​



The UK and European Union on Monday struck a new deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol, replacing it with what is called the Windsor framework after persistent disputes over post-Brexit trade arrangements, British and EU officials announced.

"I'm pleased to report that we have now made a decisive breakthrough," British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told a press conference in Berkshire, England, alongside Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission.

"We have changed the original protocol, and are today announcing the new Windsor framework ... Negotiations have not always been easy, but I'd like to pay an enormous personal tribute to Ursula for her vision in recognizing the possibility of a new way forward."

He said under the new agreement EU law will continue to have a role in Northern Ireland, explaining: "That is a consequence of it staying in the single market."

"Today's agreement safeguards sovereignty for the people of Northern Ireland. The only EU law that applies in Northern Ireland under the framework is the minimum necessary to avoid a hard border with Ireland and allow Northern Irish businesses to continue accessing the EU market. But I know that many people in Northern Ireland are worried about being subject to changes in EU goods laws," he said.

‘Stormont brake’ on new EU rules

Sunak also said the deal includes a “Stormont brake” enabling the Northern Ireland Assembly – known as Stormont – to halt new EU single market rules from applying in the region.

"Many have called for Stormont to have a say over these law, but the Stormont brake goes further and means that Stormont can in fact stop them from applying in Northern Ireland," he said.

"This will establish a clear process for which the democratically elected assembly can pull an emergency brake for changes to EU goods rules that would have significant and lasting effect on everyday lives. If the brake is pulled, the UK government will have a veto."

Von der Leyen hailed the consequence of the negotiations as "extraordinary," thanking the teams involved.

"For the issues around the protocol on Northern Ireland, we knew it was not going to be easy. We knew we needed to listen to each other's concerns very carefully ... (We) were both genuinely committed to find a practical solution for people and for all communities in Northern Ireland."

She added: “Today, we can take pride in the fact that we have delivered on that commitment.”

Windsor Framework and green lane

The new deal reached by Sunak and von der Leyen effectively replaces the old Northern Ireland Protocol.

The new legal framework includes a “Stormont Brake” that enables the UK to veto new EU goods laws if they are not backed by both communities in Northern Ireland.

According to the British government, a new green lane (the UK internal market scheme) means traders moving goods destined for Northern Ireland will be freed of unnecessary red tape.

"All requirements have been scrapped for trade from Northern Ireland to Great Britain on a permanent basis, including the requirement for export declarations," the government said in a statement.

The green lane will also be expanded to include food retailers such as supermarkets and hospitality businesses.

Chilled meats like sausages will be able to move freely into Northern Ireland like other retail food products.

Medicines approved for use by the UK's medicines regulator will be automatically available in every pharmacy and hospital in Northern Ireland, without the need for barcode scanning requirements, unlike the old protocol.

Northern Ireland Protocol and Brexit

Up to now, the Northern Ireland Protocol has necessitated border checks on any animal and plant-based products, including frozen meat and processed meat products, before their transport to Northern Ireland, which is aligned with EU rules and regulations.

The protocol created a de facto trade border in the Irish Sea between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

The UK left the bloc on Jan. 31, 2020, as a result of the 2016 Brexit referendum that ended the country’s 40-year-plus membership in the European club.

The agreement signed by the sides included the protocol, which practically avoided a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The protocol has been a major thorn of contention between the sides.
 
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