NI elections delay to help solve Brexit customs row
A DEAL that finally resolves the post-Brexit Northern Ireland customs row could be struck within weeks, after ministers pushed back elections into the new year.
It is believed delaying the vote would give the UK and EU more time to find a solution to the region’s divisive trade agreement.
The Northern Ireland Protocol was meant to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border.
But it has led to new checks on some goods moving between Great Britain and the province.
EU officials are said to be inspecting a UK database system that would ease customs problems at Ulster’s sea borders with Britain.
If approved, it could lead to an agreement between the two sides.
A senior Government source said: “Talks are progressing well. We are confident this extra time will be enough to secure a favourable outcome for everyone.” Ministers hope the January 19 election deadline will allow the power-sharing executive to be restored.
The Democratic Unionist Party, which collapsed the executive in May, refuses to restart it while the Protocol is in place. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said the delayed elections “aims to create the time and space needed for talks between the UK Government and the European Commission to develop, and for the Northern Ireland parties to work together to restore the devolved institutions as soon as possible”. Mr Heaton-Harris also warned unionists he would legislate to cut Stormont members’ pay while the assembly does not sit. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will restate his commitment to restoring the executive today, when he holds talks with his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin at the British-Irish Council summit.