Other News In Brief

SDLP Urge Leaders To 'Approach Deal In Good Faith'

The SDLP has encouraged NI's political leaders to approach the terms of a deal between the European Commission and the British Government in good faith and with a determination to restore the democratic institutions in Northern Ireland.

Colum Eastwood MP said: "The SDLP will study the legal text of the agreement between the European Commission and the British Government in detail over the coming hours. Our primary goals have been to retain the benefits of dual market access for businesses in Northern Ireland, restore the democratic institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and to send politicians back to work in the interests of all our people.

"My appeal to political leaders is to approach this moment in good faith and with a common determination to restore our Assembly and Executive. People have been badly let down with no government for far too long. It is time to abandon the politics of division and deadlock.

"To those intent on intervening in this process to bolster their own political position I would say this – do not attempt to wreck this deal, to demolish the hope of a resolution that serves the people of Northern Ireland. Do not let fragile egos inflict further damage to our fragile settlement.

"The SDLP will approach this deal in good faith determined to get to work.”

UUP To Study Protocol Deal With 'Attention And Careful Consideration'

The Ulster Unionist Party has said that it will study the new Protocol deal with the "attention and careful consideration that it deserves".

Party leader, Doug Beattie, said: "We will be reflecting on whether the proposals take into consideration the concerns that we have raised and whether it truly provides long-lasting solutions.

"Let me be clear. We are not here to simply give cover to anyone. We will form our opinion based on whether we believe this is a good deal for Northern Ireland and one which protects our place within the United Kingdom's Internal Market.

"Finally, it is important to acknowledge that we were told this was something that couldn't be done. If we had listened to those who said the EU had gone as far as they could then we would not have reached this point. I am proud of the role my Party has played in engaging across the UK, European Union and beyond in making the pro-union case on the problems caused by the Protocol and in bringing the EU back to the negotiating table."

Greens Welcome 'Deal In Principle'

The Green Party has welcomed that a deal in principle has been reached by UK & EU on NI Protocol.

Councillor Mal O'Hara, said: "It is welcome that a deal in principle on the Northern Ireland Protocol has been reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom. The power to negotiate any deal always rested between Westminster and Brussels. There will be much scrutiny of the deal in coming days, but ultimately, it will be for Westminster and the EU to ratify. Meanwhile the DUP's wrong-headed approach has meant that we have had no functioning Government for a year. The people of Northern Ireland have been held to ransom for a deal that was outside their ability to influence.

"In that year, public services have continued to collapse, budgets have been overspent and people have been left to deal with the cost-of-greed crises with no support from our local Executive. Meanwhile, the climate crises looms towards us and there has been limited movement on enacting the Climate Bill which Green MLAs forced the Executive to bring forward.

"The DUP should move to end their blockade of the Assembly. People are in desperate need of support. Public services are barely holding on waiting for multi-year budgets, investment, and reform. The climate crises has not gone away and our limited window to act is closing. There is an opportunity to create a cleaner, greener, fairer Northern Ireland but we need local accountable politics to achieve that."