Significant changes, and a sight unseen deal…

WorldbyStorm

January 31

As the dust settles over the DUP's agreement to re-enter the institutions, contingent upon delivery of agreements made with the British government, suddenly attention turns to just what those agreements are.

The government here claimed initially it hadn't had sight of the deal.

Mr Varadkar welcomed the DUP move and said while there have been consultations between the European Commission and the Irish and British governments over the past few months, he has not seen the fine detail of what has been agreed.

"Obviously we'll need to see it and be confident that it doesn't have any negative consequences for the Windsor framework or the Good Friday Agreement, I don't anticipate that it does but we have to see the exact details first," he said.

But Sinn Féin it appears had done so:

McDonald said that she was satisfied that the new deal would not undermine the UK's existing agreement with Brussels on the Windsor framework. She said:

We've obviously been in in close contact with both governments, and indeed with Brussels. We are satisfied that no part of the Good Friday agreement has been undermined or damaged. And we also know that Brussels, Dublin, all parties, are satisfied that what has been agreed stays between the hedges of the needs of Brussels and the European market, and also the concerns that the DUP expressed.

Later seemed a bit more over the changes, or at least appraised of their outline ahead of time.

When it came to the UK government's recent talks with the DUP, Mr Martin said the previously agreed framework remained intact. "We've received very clear commitments in respect of the Windsor Framework", the Fianna Fáil leader said.

Mr Martin, who is also Minister for Foreign Affairs, said unionist politicians had made a "significant impact" on the shape of the framework early last year, which itself had been aimed at ironing out issues with the previous Northern Ireland protocol.

The Government did not have difficulty with any "further streamlining" of trade checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland, he said. Mr Martin added he had been "apprised" of commitments and guarantees the DUP had sought in its recent talks.

It feels like more positioning, doesn't it?

As to the changes?

Most interesting line in Jeffrey Donaldson's interview was about the pipe or conduit by which EU law arrives in NI - Sec 7a of Withdrawal Agreement. He said 7a will be amended so dynamic alignment will 'come to an end'. Sounds dramatic but EU won't have just casually said 'fine'

— JPCampbellBiz (@JP_Biz) January 30, 2024

One other point:

McDonald said her understanding was that the actual deal was concluded some time ago. (She was implying that it took the DUP time to come round to accepting the deal.)

Does the Northern Ireland protocol require certain aspects of EU law to apply in Northern Ireland and can this only happen if they are incorporated into Northern Ireland law?

One other point:

McDonald said her understanding was that the actual deal was concluded some time ago. (She was implying that it took the DUP time to come round to accepting the deal.)