‘Green lane’ in North for goods from Britain an important step, says Micheál Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said the start in October of the “green lane” for goods being imported into Northern Ireland from Britain will be an important step in resolving the political difficulties surrounding the Northern protocol.

The protocol has been dogged by controversy since its signing in January 2020 particularly in relation to goods, food and animals being shipped from Britain.

The Windsor Framework established a mechanism for trusted traders to move all goods through a new “green lane”, irrespective of whether or not they were considered “at risk”. The green lane, which is expected to greatly reduce the administrative burden on business, will become fully operational in October.

Mr Martin said that under the premiership of Rishi Sunak, there had been a “growing and strengthening relationship” between the European Union and the UK.

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“There seems to be satisfaction on both sides that the steps that will be necessary for the implementation of Windsor are being met.”

He said there was now data sharing and the fact that the UK had joined the EU science and research programme, Horizon, was evidence of a harmonious and effective relationship.

Mr Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs, was speaking in Iveagh House where he and Minister of State for European Affairs Peter Burke convened a meeting of Brexit Stakeholders Forum. The forum was discussing changes in relation to customs and other rules that will come into effect from January 2024.

The Tánaiste said, on a wider level, his priority was to work towards the restoration of the Northern Executive and the Assembly.

“I think that would give a degree of certainty to the implementation of Windsor, because we have the Executive in place. Part of the mechanism would involve more effective input from Northern Ireland political representatives.”

Asked if Sinn Féin, and particularly its Northern leader Michelle O’Neill, were hard done by the continuing refusal to the DUP to take its place in the Assembly or in the Executive, the Tánaiste replied he had been consistent on that issue from the outset.

“I’ve been saying this from day one that the people’s decision, and the election, should be validated. And I was of the view that when you have elections, the first thing that happens after an election is a parliament should be convened, and a government should be formed.

“So I’ve been very, very consistent from the outset on that and have consistently said that to all of the parties, including the DUP, that the results should be validated and the DUP should take their seats.”

He said many of the difficulties raised by the DUP and others had been resolved by the Windsor framework. “I feel it was a missed opportunity in the aftermath of the Windsor agreement not to go back into the Assembly and into the Executive,” he said.

Mr Martin said he awaited the outcome of the recent engagement between the British government and the DUP to see if progress is possible.

He also said there was the continuing disagreement the Irish Government had with the British government of its controversial legacy legislation that effectively will grant immunity from prosecution to many of those involved in violence during the Troubles.