Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Majority of NI supports the Protocol’
MOST people in Northern Ireland view the Brexit Protocol governing Irish Sea trade as a positive for the region, according to a poll.
The latest survey conducted for Queen’s University, Belfast, found 52% of respondents consider the arrangement to be a “good thing” on balance.
That figure has increased from 43% who responded to the same question in June.
The poll is the latest commissioned by Queen’s to monitor attitudes in Northern Ireland towards Brexit and, particularly, the trade arrangements that have created economic barriers between the region and Great Britain.
The online survey conducted by Lucidtalk at the start of October was the third such poll undertaken since the Protocol came into effect at the start of the year.
OPINION
Principal investigator with the Queen’s project, Professor David Phinnemore, said: “Majority opinion appears to be becoming more accepting and indeed more supportive of the Protocol, although many voters remain concerned about the impact Brexit and the Protocol are having on Northern Ireland.
“Immediate priority concerns relate to the future availability of medicines and increased paperwork for and restrictions on bringing goods into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
“The UK Government sees removal of the Court of
Justice from the Protocol as an overriding priority; the evidence from this poll is that this is not a priority concern of voters in Northern Ireland.
“What matters more are practical issues and addressing the instability from Brexit and the Protocol.”
Co-investigator Professor Katy Hayward added: “Given the UK and EU are in talks to make adjustments to the Protocol, this survey is an important indication of the views and concerns of the people in Northern Ireland.”