#UPDATE N. Ireland's pro-UK DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson (L) said "key issues of concern" remained after a new post-Brexit trade deal was announced on Monday, while the head of the nationalist Sinn Fein party Michelle O'Neill (R) called again for a new power-sharing government pic.twitter.com/OuMaTjc7qm
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) February 27, 2023
In a statement on Monday, the DUP leader said: “We welcome the publication of the outcome of the government’s negotiations with the EU which ends a period of speculation and spin, often from those who know little about Northern Ireland.
“In broad terms it is clear that significant progress has been secured across a number of areas whilst also recognising there remain key issues of concern.
“There can be no disguising the fact that in some sectors of our economy EU law remains applicable in Northern Ireland.”
[As I warned earlier, there is no avoiding that outcome if the border remains open in Ireland. Rishi Sunak claimed that the deal will remove the trade barrier from the Irish Sea, but the customs checks will have to occur somewhere — unless the UK agrees to adopt EU trade policies and enters a Norway status. They have steadfastly refused to use that option, and the Tories probably can’t make that sale at home anyway. The more we learn about this deal, the less that loyalists will like it, probably, but they may be stuck with it. — Ed]
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