Following the Government statement on preparations for the implementation of the Northern Ireland Protocol, James Sunderland urges the EU to take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to all negotiations if they are as serious as we are about peace, prosperity and the people of Northern Ireland.
James Sunderland (Bracknell) (Con)
The very point of the protocol is to uphold the Good Friday agreement, and also to protect consumers in Northern Ireland. The First Minister and Deputy First Minister recently made this clear when they wrote to the European Union. Does my hon. Friend agree that if the EU is as serious as we are about peace, prosperity and the people of Northern Ireland, it must take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to all negotiations?
Mr Walker (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office)
My hon. Friend is spot on. It is also important that both parties to the protocol bear in mind the wording in that protocol about protecting the everyday life of people in Northern Ireland. That is absolutely crucial to this, and it is something that we should both be working to deliver.