Sinn Fein welcomes Brexit reset deal for ‘all-island economy'
Sinn Fein has welcomed Sir Keir Starmer's reset deal with the EU, saying it would protect the 'all-island economy' because it means the Republic and the north continue to follow the same EU trading rules.
The party, which wants a united Ireland, said the deal undid some of the 'disastrous impacts of Brexit' on Northern Ireland.
'Anything that protects the all-island economy, anything that maximises our access to both markets in terms of trade, anything that removes barriers for trade, then that's something that we would obviously very much welcome,' said Michelle O'Neill, the first minister of Northern Ireland.
Ms O'Neill, the vice-president of Sinn Fein, said relations between London and Brussels had improved but added on Monday that the 'devil would be in the detail'.
Chris Hazzard, a Sinn Fein MP, added: 'I welcome the reset of relationships between the EU and British Government undoing some of the disastrous impacts of Brexit.
'The people of the north were dragged out of Europe against their wishes, so any improvements in the relationship between the British government and the EU, particularly in areas such as trade, agri-food, energy, and climate are positive steps,' the South Down MP said.
Credit: Reuters
In 2016, most people in Northern Ireland voted to Remain in the EU, which the region would automatically rejoin if there was a united Ireland.
That can only happen after a referendum, which Sinn Fein wants by 2030 but the Government has rejected.
The Windsor Framework is Northern Ireland's Brexit deal. It prevents a hard land border with EU member Ireland, which could jeopardise the peace process.
The treaty grants Northern Ireland unique access to both the UK and EU markets.
The UK region continues to follow hundreds of EU rules after Brexit. Border checks and controls are carried out on British goods and animals arriving in Northern Ireland to ensure they meet European rules.
Almost all of those Irish Sea border checks will now not be necessary after the Government agreed to align with EU rules on plant and animal health as part of the reset deal.
In a nod to Irish neutrality, Sinn Fein criticised the new UK-EU defence pact, which will allow Britain to participate in EU defence spending schemes.
'We are concerned by the focus placed on funding increased militarisation rather than on the resolution of conflicts and on peace building,' Mr Hazzard said.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) campaigned for Brexit but fears the Windsor Framework jeopardises Northern Ireland's place in the UK.
Gavin Robinson, the DUP leader, said the reset would be assessed through 'the prism of the union'.
Gregory Campbell, the MP for East Londonderry, told The Telegraph: 'We welcome what may prove to be progress towards removing barriers to trade within the United Kingdom, but the progress made does not deal with the host of problems created by the application of EU law specifically in Northern Ireland only.
'We will continue to make the case for full restoration of Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom, including removing the application of EU law in our country and the internal Irish Sea border it creates.'
He added: 'Sinn Fein's opposition to defence spending sits alongside their pro-Putin propaganda, and ignores the Republic of Ireland's reliance on the United Kingdom for its air and sea defence.'
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