Brexit: PM Strikes Deal With EU

Prime Minister Theresa May has struck a deal with the EU to move Brexit talks onto the next stage.

There will be no "hard border" between Northern Ireland and Ireland and leaders of the other EU nations will decide whether or not talks will move forward.

However, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said he was "confident" the talks will go-ahead.

Mrs May said: "I very much welcome the prospect of moving ahead to the next phase, to talk about trade and security and to discuss the positive and ambitious future relationship that is in all of our interests."

Alliance Brexit Spokesperson Stephen Farry MLA said it was a strong foundation on which to build.

He said: "Any type of Brexit will bring some degree of friction and lost opportunity, but we have to find a solution that works for Northern Ireland society and our economy, and maximises our connectivity and opportunities.

"Within this foundation, there are two absolute planks, namely the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the avoidance of a hard border on the island of Ireland. The principle of consent and the political integrity of the UK is reinforced in multiple ways.

"On this foundation a range of different scenarios and mechanisms can now be considered. There is logic of the UK as a whole remaining within both the Single Market and Customs Union. If that is not the case, then the space for a specific solution for Northern Ireland becomes inevitable.

"Again, this can take various forms, but for Alliance the cleanest route forward is for Northern Ireland as a region to remain within the Single Market. Such an outcome would be consistent with today's foundational agreement.

"Northern Ireland can be a bridge to both the UK and European markets, which should not be viewed as mutually exclusive. We must be ambitious, which means protecting and preserving east-west trade links, but also positioning our economy so it can grow and be transformed. We cannot do this through just trying to protect what we have, we must look to Europe and through the EU to the rest of the world, and consider not just the movement of goods but also our service sector and the free movement of EU nationals."

However, Sinn Fein raised concerns over the Brexit deal.

President Gerry Adams said:"Today's communiqué does not set the final deal on Brexit. The communiqué sets out broad principles. These have been assessed by the Irish government as sufficient progress to allow the Brexit process to move into the next phase of negotiations on trade.

"While the communiqué recognises the unique and special circumstances surrounding the issue of the Irish peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and the border it does not address key areas of concern for many citizens, especially nationalists living in the north and citizens in the border region.

"The insistence by the British that Britain and the North must leave the customs union and the single market presents a real and live danger which cannot be understated.

"This also contradicts the British Prime Ministers claim that there will not be a hard economic border.

"Today's communiqué also throws no light on the future role of the European Court of Justice and in particular the right of EU citizens in that part of the island to be able to access the EU institutions.

"These are all genuine concerns particularly in light of the British Prime Ministers assertion today that the North will no longer be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

"The Irish government needs to be very conscious that the refusal to embrace rights is at the heart of the current difficulties in the political institutions and the collapse of the Executive.

"While today's communiqué represents some progress there are many unanswered questions around key issues and the Irish government must remain focussed and vigilant. Sinn Féin is also very mindful that this Brexit process is a work in progress."

(CD)