EU Withdrawal Agreement

The deal protects Northern Ireland businesses’ access to the UK market, safeguards Northern Ireland’s place in the customs territory of the United Kingdom, ensures the flow of chilled meats and medicines, provides flexibility for state aid rules, exempts agricultural subsidies from EU state aid rules, supports fishermen with additional funding, and respects protocol provisions allowing EU officials presence at ports under reciprocal data sharing arrangements.

Welcomes the statement but expresses concerns about border infrastructure, readiness for transition period, false assurances by Prime Minister last year, and need for a level playing field in trade negotiations. Questions the number of customs agents available and asks if medical or food supplies will be disrupted.

Responds to Rachel Reeves' questions about border infrastructure, trader support service, trusted trader scheme, customs agent capacity, level playing field and workers' rights. Reassures that no additional customs checks will face goods going from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Asks if the agreement makes a free trade deal with the EU more or less likely, ensuring UK sovereignty in its entirety.

Critiques the chaotic state of Brexit negotiations, questioning why Scotland is excluded from beneficial arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Questions whether the Chancellor's statement undermines UK sovereignty and requests an appearance before the European Scrutiny Committee.

Welcomes the political commitment but questions the temporary nature of grace periods for food products from GB to Northern Ireland, expressing concern over business preparation.

Asks for reassurance that businesses in his constituency will not face new bureaucratic obstacles or tariffs when exporting goods and services to Northern Ireland.

Requests assurances that the agreement does not undermine Scotland's position within the Union and seeks similar phasing-in agreements for Scottish businesses.

Questions the necessity of a mini embassy in Northern Ireland, viewing it as inflammatory to communities there.

Asks for commitment that safeguard measures will be introduced if necessary to ensure unfettered access in trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Congratulates the Chancellor on reaching an agreement, questioning whether any part of the withdrawal agreement requires direct application of EU law within the UK.

Welcomes the agreement but expresses concern about potential disruption on trade routes between Wales and Northern Ireland due to lack of infrastructure preparation.

Points out that any agreement made is still subject to European Court of Justice jurisdiction under disputes procedure, stressing the importance of maintaining this House's ability to legislate independently from ECJ.

Welcomes details given but seeks assurance on continuity of supply for Northern Ireland households post mitigations on export health certificates expire in six months.

Asks the Chancellor to assure that any trade agreement with EU will not compromise UK sovereignty over fishing waters, borders and laws.

Acknowledges progress made but raises concerns about unfinished business including transit issues from GB via ROI into NI, access to EU free trade agreements, data adequacy and protection of the service sector on an all-Ireland basis.

Confirms that UK will leave transition period at end of December regardless of whether we reach an agreement with the EU.

Expresses sadness if negotiations fail and urges Government to make every effort to ensure a deal is reached rather than leaving without one.

Welcomes progress made but seeks reassurance that the rest of UK Internal Market Bill will remain in place to ensure goods can move seamlessly across the UK.

Criticises Government's failure to provide proper support for businesses during pandemic, citing Brexit shambles as a contributing factor.

Reiterates that no one on the Conservative side does not want a deal but stresses it must respect UK integrity and sovereignty.

Critiques the Government's stance towards Northern Ireland and Scotland, suggesting it is contradictory. Questions if the Minister is undermining devolved administrations.

Defends the position on Northern Ireland and Scotland, emphasising that Scotland has both devolved administration in Holyrood and representation in Westminster. Also addresses concerns about trade deals with the EU and tariff implications.

Compliments Michael Gove on his role and welcomes an agreement that compromises the EU's previous stance, supports the Prime Minister in not making last-minute deals for trade.

Raises concerns about Cumbrian farm exports to the single market and the impact of tariffs on UK farmers, highlighting risks to family farms in the Lakes and Dales.

Welcomes a principle that exit summary declarations for goods from Northern Ireland to rest of UK will not be required but asks for assurance that all processes within UK territory are carried out by UK authorities.

Critiques the ongoing negotiations as a never-ending nightmare and questions if the Government is capable of securing settled deals with the EU.

Welcomes clarity provided by Gove's statement on trade for UK manufacturers, highlights importance of free trade agreements with the European Union market.

Welcomes changes made in the package and questions if this agreement compromises sovereignty or the Union's integrity.

Expresses concerns about EU officials directing UK officials under article 5 of the protocol, questioning whether we are gaining back sovereignty.

Queries if control over borders and coastal waters should ever be ceded to a foreign power in future deals.

Highlights the risk of tariffs on UK-made vehicles without a deal, questions for guarantees against job losses due to no-deal Brexit.

Called for short questions during the debate to allow the Minister to provide concise answers.

Urged the Government to engage more with Northern Ireland communities, including Protestant Unionist loyalists and nationalist supporters of the EU, to demonstrate the benefits of the new protocol approach.

Asked whether the Government shares some blame for Honda's production pause due to component shortages at ports.

Inquired if the removal of clauses from the UK Internal Market Bill was a concession to the EU or an indication that a wider trade deal is imminent.

Welcomed the withdrawal of certain clauses in the UK Internal Market Bill but questioned whether an assessment would be carried out on the impact of breaking treaty commitments.

Asked about steps to ensure that Northern Ireland and Great Britain companies can procure Government contracts if they employ a significant number of apprentices post-Brexit.

Asked whether the Minister was confident there would not be significant disruption due to multiple factors converging at ports before the end of the transition period.

Sought reassurance that trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain would continue seamlessly despite EU interpretation concerns.

Questioned the abolition of expert trade advisory groups, which were set up to advise on customs and continuity in trade.

Complimented the Minister for reaching an amicable agreement with the EU and asked about HMRC's readiness for new IT systems.

Asked where a business owner primarily exporting to the UK would prefer to be located post-Brexit, Northern Ireland or Wales?

Inquired about the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in relation to the Northern Ireland protocol and its compatibility with UK sovereignty.

Asked for a comment on the Government's commitment to the Peace Plus programme, which has underpinned peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

Requested reassurance that the Prime Minister’s team would remember the importance of securing a deal for Cumbrian farmers during negotiations with the EU.

Welcomed the temporary food waiver for trusted traders but expressed concern over uncertainty for small businesses not signed up to the scheme.

Questioned why Scotland would be disadvantaged by the derogation and suggested that independence within the EU might be a better option.

Welcomed the pragmatic approach taken in reaching an agreement, respecting sovereignty while protecting the single market, and wished the Prime Minister well at his dinner.

Asked about the legal and administrative costs to businesses if no data adequacy agreement is reached by end of month.

Welcomed the statement and congratulated Michael Gove on achieving a pragmatic approach to protect Northern Ireland’s place in UK’s customs territory.

Asked about continued benefits for healthcare and Erasmus programmes post-Brexit if no deal is reached.

Inquired about the additional paperwork burden related to exporting conflict diamonds.

Expressed concern over UK’s foreign policy influence without a long-lasting trade deal with EU.

Agreed that today’s announcement combines principle and pragmatism, an approach that benefits businessmen.

Questioned why no other European country is seeking to leave the EU post-Brexit and highlighted Scotland's desire for EU membership.

Asked for assurance that there will be no hard checkpoints on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland post-Brexit.

Inquired about when the negotiations and debates over Brexit would end, noting ongoing discussions 10 months after 'Brexit Day'.

Asked whether EU authorities supervising checks will pay for their presence or if UK taxpayers will be expected to cover the cost.

Asked for assurance that there will be no border down the Irish Sea and no impediment placed on Strangford residents buying foodstuffs from other parts of the UK.

Confirmed that EU agencies funding the border checks in Northern Ireland will pay, and assured Jim Shannon that there would be no border down the Irish Sea for Strangford citizens. Emphasised that the deal works independently from any wider EU-UK trade agreement.

Congratulated the Government on changes to the UK Internal Market Bill, noting it as a sign of seasonal goodwill and inquired about the need for an imminent positive outcome regarding the broader EU-UK trade deal.

Expressed satisfaction with the Government's stance on protecting the Good Friday agreement, securing the Union, and upholding the rule of law. Requested assurance that during the grace period, support will be provided to businesses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Acknowledged the importance of ongoing support for businesses post-agreement and thanked Simon Hoare for rigorous scrutiny throughout the process.