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The DUP’s deliberations on the Windsor Framework will not be thrown off course by ‘rhetoric’ and will instead be grounded in reality, party leader Sir Geoffrey Donaldson argued.
He acknowledged improvements in Northern Ireland’s Irish Sea trade deal post-Brexit, but said questions remained about “the core sector of our economy”.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has reiterated that it will take time to get “clear answers” on aspects of the proposed arrangement that his party still has doubts about.
His comments, which were included in a message to party supporters, suggested that Sinn Fein President Mary Lou Macdonald would once again call the DUP to lift the boycott of the empowered government of Northern Ireland and “half-way” the sharing of power. Came when I asked to finish.
McDonald and Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill met with party activists in Belfast on Saturday morning to update them on developments this week.
The UK and EU hope the proposed framework for making changes to the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol will be enough to persuade the DUP to restore Stormont officials and parliament. increase.
While the DUP has made it clear that it considers the views of the entire party in making collective decisions, prominent DUP figures such as Sammy Wilson, Lord Dodds and Ian Paisley Jr. enough to address their concerns about trade and sovereignty, which have already expressed concerns about whether the pact change will work.
Sir Geoffrey updated party members and supporters in a message Saturday morning.
he said: Our rationale is to look long term and build a better Northern Ireland for future generations.
“Some say ‘yes’ to everything, others say ‘no’ because they are more focused on where they come from than where they are going.
“But as defenders of Northern Ireland’s future, we must carefully consider the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each situation.
“We acknowledge progress when we see improvements and take the time to get clear answers if questions remain.
“We will not allow rhetoric to throw us off track as we assess our path forward, but we will be grounded in reality and judge our transactions against the seven tests set out in our 2022 manifesto.”
This protocol has created checks and processes for the movement of goods from GB to Northern Ireland.
The latest agreement between London and Brussels aims to remove many of the post-Brexit trade barriers and create a new system for the flow of goods to Northern Ireland.
In a message, Sir Geoffrey criticized Stormont’s rival parties for supporting the implementation of the Protocol.
“People said it wasn’t possible, but this party has proven it can be done. With Brussels back on the table, changes have been made,” he said.
“While we have studied the details and taken expert advice, we have seen improvements, particularly in trade, but questions remain about core sectors of the economy.
“Had the DUP taken the same approach as Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Allied Party, Northern Ireland would be in a worse position today. is.”
“Protocol parties were more focused on the interests of the EU than those of Northern Ireland,” he added.
Speaking at the party’s convention in Belfast, Sinn Fein, leader of the party, McDonald, said nothing would prevent the DUP from returning to Stormont while it sought clarification on aspects of the framework.
“I think we need to be very careful here to not keep politics going for this long,” she said.
“Of course people need to work on the details of this deal. We have said that we can do that while we are contributing.
“Therefore, we encourage everyone, especially DUPs, to take a decision now and give people what they want, what they need: government.
“Now I can explain all the things that need explanation.
“A return of government or a return of Congress that respects the democratic verdict of every voter, nationalist, Republican, trade unionist, and loyalist is also a win for all.
“What we have at the moment is the worst of all imaginable worlds, a stalemate.”
McDonald said it was “the right and sensible thing” for the DUP to return to delegating power.
she said:
“We are now finished with negotiations, that a deal is on the table, that the borders of the islands are not strengthened, that the Good Friday Agreement is protected, that the All-Irish economy is protected and, of course, that access to the European market is the economics here. It’s very important to the opportunity, and now it’s decision time, that’s really it.
“We are actively preparing for the return of parliament, the return of the executive branch, and there is no time to lose.
“People want a decision and a very quick government, and I think they absolutely deserve it now.”