Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Dodds 24hr U-turn over Swiss-style trading deal
A DUP minister will not oppose a Swiss-style deal to ease Irish Sea trade disruption – despite earlier dismissing it as “slavishly” following EU rules.
Economy Minister Diane Dodds she would not be against anything offering “short-term relief ” but expressed doubt at whether the UK Government would agree to such a deal with Brussels.
An agreement on agrifood movement similar to the European Union’s deal with Switzerland has been suggested as a way to ease issues with the post-brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.
The economic barriers with the rest of the UK have angered unionists, with the DUP and UUP calling for it to be scrapped.
The minister said earlier in the week that Swiss-syle arrangements “requires the whole of the UK to slavishly follow EU rules”.
But after a U-turn yesterday, Mrs Dodds told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster: “I’m not against anything that will bring any short-term relief, and I’m not against a Swiss-style deal in and of itself.”
She said her Assembly comments were reflecting how she did not expect such an arrangement would be possible “knowing the position of the Conservative Party under Boris Johnson”.
THREE men have been arrested by police investigating an incident in East Belfast earlier this month, described by cops as a “significant gathering”.
Detectives from the PSNI’S Criminal Investigation Branch and Paramilitary Crime Task Force spent much of yesterday carrying out searches in Belfast and Lisburn.
Early morning raids on a number of homes resulted in the arrests of three men – aged 58, 56 and 34 – who were detained on suspicion of terrorism and other related offences.
Det Chief Supt John Mcvea said: “Our investigation into the gathering at Pitt Park and activities linked to East Belfast UVF is continuing at pace.”
He added the arrests were conducted under the Terrorism Act with the men being questioned in Musgrave Street Serious Crime Suite.
Police are continuing to probe the gathering on February 2 and have appealed for anyone with information or footage regarding the incident or criminality in the area to get in touch.