Radio Equipment (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024

Debate between Lord Browne of Belmont and Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown

Monday 11th November 2024 Grand Committee

[Lord Browne of Belmont (DUP)]

My Lords, this is yet another example of Northern Ireland being subject to EU laws under the Northern Ireland protocol and Windsor agreement so, first, I declare that I remain 100% opposed to the Windsor Framework and the protocol. I will ask the Minister a few questions but, before that, I should say that many chargers on the market are extremely dangerous. They are coming in from abroad and have been responsible for setting fire to many properties, so I believe that these chargers should be regulated.

Having said that, does this instrument apply to Great Britain? If it is so important in Northern Ireland, why has it not been rolled out across the rest of the United Kingdom? Also, who will be responsible for enforcement? Will the prosecutions apply to the manufacturer, the distributor or the retailer? Because the instrument will apply to just Northern Ireland, will these chargers have to be stamped with something like, “Suitable for use only in Northern Ireland”? This will add to the cost.

At present, British Telecom is installing new digital telephones in Northern Ireland, but these will not be able to contact the emergency services if there is a power cut. There is a battery, which will last for one hour; after that, they will not be able to contact the emergency services unless they are attached to a battery or a charger. Will this instrument also apply to chargers for these phones so that elderly people can contact the emergency services?

[Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP)]

My Lords, further to what my noble friend Lord Browne mentioned, when the United Kingdom left the European Union we were told that we left as one. When the votes were counted and it was said that in Scotland and in Northern Ireland people were against leaving, we were told, “No—we left as one”. This is another example of how that statement is not true. How could we have left as one when the Explanatory Note says:

“The Windsor Framework requires that the European Union … legislation listed in its Annex 2 is implemented in Northern Ireland”?


Surely this is another example of how the Windsor Framework and the protocol differentiate Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom. It is another example of regulations that are placed on Northern Ireland, over which Northern Ireland’s elected representatives or even this Parliament have no authority but a foreign jurisdiction, the EU, says it must be done.