Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Protocol: Implementation Proposals

Jacob Young Excerpts
Wednesday 18th November 2020

(3 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Robin Walker Portrait Mr Walker
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The hon. Gentleman will know that he and I do not agree on the protocol, and I gently point out that the protocol very clearly applies to goods but not to services.

Jacob Young Portrait Jacob Young (Redcar) (Con) [V]
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We cannot talk about the Good Friday or Belfast agreement without thinking of my predecessor Dr Mo Mowlam, who was instrumental in achieving the agreement in 1998. Today, preventing a hard border east-west in the Irish sea is just as important as preventing one north-south on the island of Ireland. Does my hon. Friend agree that the EU must take a pragmatic and proportionate approach to any discussions to ensure continued peace and prosperity for all parts of our United Kingdom?

Robin Walker Portrait Mr Walker
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and he is right to pay tribute to his constituency predecessor in this respect. The Good Friday agreement has always been a careful balance of the interests of the communities in Northern Ireland and the importance of east-west and north-south co-operation. It is vital in delivering the protocol that all parties should continue to respect that.