A chara, – Newton Emerson argues that US special envoy Joe Kennedy’s role might be to make the protocol work for Northern Ireland, and that the EU might be horrified if he succeeded in doing so (“Joe Kennedy III could surprise everybody in special envoy role”, Opinion & Analysis, December 22nd).
In his view, “Brussels is prepared to tolerate indigenous firms in Northern Ireland selling into its market, provided they are subject to its laws and state aid rules, but a quasi-offshore US enterprise park is another matter”.
But having agreed that Northern Ireland would automatically become part of the EU if it united with Ireland, why should the EU regard US firms investing in Northern Ireland any differently from US firms investing in Ireland?
The real significance of Joe Kennedy’s role is that he might enable the DUP to get off the hook they have fashioned for themselves by brokering an agreement between the UK and the EU and Northern Ireland parties on how the protocol will be implemented.
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Having open access to both the UK internal market and the EU single market is an offer some US companies might find attractive, benefiting all communities in Northern Ireland and their political representatives.
If he can demonstrate there are a number of US companies just waiting for a positive resolution of the protocol issue to invest in Northern Ireland, then even the DUP might come on board. Any “horror” in Brussels at such an outcome would be purely performative, designed to give the impression the DUP have gotten one over on the European Commission.
Apparently, that is the price of DUP agreement to anything these days. – Is mise,
FRANK SCHNITTGER,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.