Brexit protocol has damaged relationships with Britain and Ireland, warns DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
Northern Ireland's relationships with Great Britain and the Republic have been damaged by the Brexit protocol, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said.
In his first interview as leader, Sir Jeffrey called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recognise the protocol has harmed Northern Ireland's constitutional position in the United Kingdom.
He said there will be "opportunities going forward" from the protocol, which grants Northern Ireland access to UK and EU markets, but they cannot be accessed yet because of "unnecessary barriers" created by the Irish Sea border.
He told Sky News on Sunday: "At the heart of the Belfast or Good Friday Agreement are our three sets of relationships, and there's a very delicate balance within that agreement as to how those relationships are managed.
"One of the key relationships is that between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
"The agreement is very clear. The principle of consent protects the rights of the people of Northern ireland to determine their constitutional status.
"When you harm one of those relationships, you harm all of them by extension.
"That's exactly what we've seen happening because our relationship with Great Britain has been harmed by this protocol.
"So too our relationship with the Republic of Ireland has been harmed, and indeed it has undermined and destabilised relationships within Northern Ireland itself.
"We've seen that even on our streets.
" So it is imperative for all of us that we resolve these issues."
The protocol is deeply unpopular with unionist and loyalists as it creates a trade border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and means EU rules governing trade in goods still apply in the region.
Asked why protesting loyalists should trust Mr Johnson to deliver on the issue, after he negotiated and signed up to the protocol, Sir Jeffrey said the Prime Minister should be given a "second chance".
"I understand their scepticism, I really do. We've heard the Prime Minister, even in recent weeks, talk about addressing the issues and the problems created by the protocol," he said.