NI can thrive under protocol

It is clear that the northern ireland Protocol is creating problems in supplies from Britain.

These need to be mitigated in practical steps which reflect the small volume of this trade relative to the overall size of the European single market.

Trusted trader schemes, extension of the grace period and simplification of procedures are all possible.

However, we should not allow these problems to blind us to the singular advantage which the protocol can offer: unfettered access to the markets of both the UK and EU.

Comparisons of GDP show that the combined British and Irish economies are larger than that of France, larger than the economies of Italy and Spain together and larger than the total of the 16 smallest EU states.

The combined British and Irish market is very large and has a common travel area, a broadly shared culture, the same language and multiple social, family, commercial and professional links — enough for many inward investors, and with access to the wider EU market as a long-term prospect. Some companies are already beginning to reap these benefits.

Northern Ireland is the only place in the world with this unique opportunity. It offers a young, well-educated, English-speaking workforce and the opportunity to recruit specialist skills from both islands.

We can expect a boom in manufacturing, which would allowus to pros per together. that should be our goal.

ARTHUR BELL Dunmurry, Co Down