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LAST UPDATE | 13 Oct 2021
THE EU HAS unveiled a series of proposals that would slash the red tape burden on Irish Sea trade created by Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol.
The European Commission measures would see an 80% reduction in checks envisaged for retail agri-food products arriving in the region from Great Britain.
The requirement to submit documentary information online ahead of shipping the goods will remain, but the EU said it envisages an 80% reduction in both identity checks on lorries arriving at ports and the more intensive physical inspections of their contents.
The proposed changes to the contentious post-Brexit trading arrangements would also remove the prospect of certain British produce, including Cumberland sausages, being banned from export to Northern Ireland.
The plan also includes a 50% reduction in customs paperwork required to move products into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
More products and companies would be exempt from customs tariffs as a result of expanding trusted trader arrangements and a concept that differentiates between goods destined for Northern Ireland and those “at risk” of onward transportation into the Irish Republic.
European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said the EU proposals to change the Protocol are a “direct and genuine” response to concerns raised.
He said: “We have listened to, engaged with and heard Northern Irish stakeholders, from political leaders to businesses and a cross-section of civic society.
“Our proposed solutions are a direct and genuine response to concerns they had raised.”
“In effect, we are proposing an alternative model for implementation of the protocol.
“One the one hand the flow of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be facilitated for goods that are to stay in Northern Ireland. On the other, robust safeguards and monitoring mechanisms should be put in place to make sure that they stay in Northern Ireland.”
Sefcovic said the EU’s proposals on customs were “ambitious” and would combine with the relaxations on agri-food checks to effectively create an “express lane” to greatly improve the facilitation of Irish Sea trade.
“With this robust package of practical, imaginative solutions we can continue to implement the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland for the benefit of all communities on the ground,” he said.
“It not only cements stability and predictability – an indispensable ingredient for the local economy to flourish – but also paves the way for enhanced opportunities.”
He added: “We continue to stand united behind Northern Ireland while at the same time remaining determined to protect our internal market.
“Now I invite the UK Government to engage with us earnestly and intensively on all our proposals. With them I’m convinced we could be in the home stretch when it comes to the protocol.”
We have listen to, engaged with, and heard Northern Irish stakeholders. Our proposed package of enhanced opportunities is a direct, genuine, impactful response to concerns they've raised.
— Maroš Šefčovič🇪🇺 (@MarosSefcovic) October 13, 2021
A real potential to make a real difference on the ground.https://t.co/k8gvfKDwO7 pic.twitter.com/t9drNaCcCn
The EU has also offered to legislate to ensure no disruption to the supply line of medicines from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Under the protocol, this supply chain would have been severely disrupted when an ongoing grace period lapses, as Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are in different regulatory zones for pharmaceuticals.
The EU law change would allow GB-based pharma suppliers to maintain their current regulatory arrangements. It would mean companies in GB could continue to act as a hub for the supply of generic medicines to NI, without the need to establish bases in the region.
The EU has said the medicines supply chain issue is not confined to Northern Ireland and applies to other small markets, including the Irish Republic, Malta and Cyprus. The steps being suggested would guarantee pharmaceutical supply chains to all of those markets.
The commission has also pledged to enhance engagement with stakeholders in Northern Ireland, including politicians, business representatives and other members of civic society.
This would see the establishment of structured groups to provide a forum for discussion on key issues related to the implementation of the protocol.
It would also see stakeholders invited to some meetings of the joint UK/EU committees that oversee the protocol. The EU says it also wants to create a stronger link between the Stormont Assembly and the EU/UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly.
It also intends to create a website to show how EU legislation is applicable in Northern Ireland.
However, the proposals contained in four separate papers published by the bloc on Wednesday evening do not offer any concession on a key UK Government demand, the removal of the oversight role for the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
The EU said the proposals were based on flexibilities inherent within the protocol but also went a bit further.
In return for the scaled-back checking regime, the EU has asked for certain safeguards to be implemented to provide extra assurances that products said to be destined for Northern Ireland do not end up crossing the Irish border.
These include labelling of certain products, making clear they are for sale in the UK only, and enhanced monitoring of supply chain movements and access to real-time trade flow information.
It said access to the real-time data, and the construction of new checking facilities at ports in Northern Ireland, were commitments the UK had already made but was yet to deliver on.
While the range of measures would go some way to reducing everyday friction on trade caused by the protocol, they do not address a UK demand over the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
UK Brexit minister Lord Frost has made clear the removal of the ECJ’s oversight function in policing the protocol is a red line for the Government if a compromise deal is to be struck.
Speaking at a press briefing this evening, Maros Sefcovic said the role of the ECJ was mentioned to him only once during discussions and interactions with representatives in Northern Ireland.
Sefcovic said: “Referring to my visit to Northern Ireland, it left me with very lasting impressions and I really met a lot of stakeholders and I saw big positive excitement about the opportunities dual market access represents.
“Many of the proposals we are putting on the table were indeed inspired by one of the first meetings I had in Northern Ireland with the Business Brexit Working Group. I heard from the representatives of the business communities, I heard from business leaders at Stormont, I heard from representatives of civic society.
“I can tell you that in all the meetings I had, and I had quite a few interactions, exchanges and discussions, the issue of the European Court of Justice was mentioned once.
“When I first heard about this issue it was probably in the Command Paper which was published by the UK Government just before the summer break.”
ECJ issue
Under the terms of the deal struck by the UK and EU in 2019, the ECJ would be the final arbitrator in any future trade dispute between the two parties on the operation of the protocol.
The UK now wants to remove that provision and replace it with an independent arbitration process.
Sefcovic has insisted that the EU will not move on the ECJ issue.
He has pointed out that Northern Ireland would be unable to retain single market access – a key provision of the protocol – if the arrangement was not subject to oversight by European judges.
It is anticipated that a new round of negotiations between Brussels and London will take place in the weeks ahead.
The protocol was agreed by the UK and EU as a way to sidestep the major obstacle in the Brexit divorce talks – the border.
It achieved that by shifting regulatory and customs checks and processes to the Irish Sea.
The arrangements have created new economic barriers on goods moving from Britain to Northern Ireland.
This has caused disruption to many businesses in Northern Ireland and also created a major political headache for Boris Johnson, as unionists are furious at what they perceive as a weakening of the Union.
However, other businesses have benefited from the terms of the protocol, which provides traders in the North unique unfettered access to sell within the UK internal market and EU single market.
Under the original terms of the protocol, the North was to fall within the EU regulatory zone for medicines from 2022 – a move that would have restricted the ability to import products from Great Britain.
UK Reaction
The UK Government has said “intensive talks” should follow the European Commission’s proposals to change the Northern Ireland Protocol.
A British Government spokesperson said: “The EU have now published their proposals in response to those in our Command Paper. We are studying the detail and will of course look at them seriously and constructively.
“The next step should be intensive talks on both our sets of proposals, rapidly conducted, to determine whether there is common ground to find a solution.
“Significant changes which tackle the fundamental issues at the heart of the protocol, including governance, must be made if we are to agree a durable settlement which commands support in Northern Ireland.
“We need to find a solution which all sides can get behind for the future, which safeguards the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and which puts the UK-EU relationship on a stronger footing. We are ready to work hard with this in mind.”
With reporting by Cónal Thomas and Hayley Halpin
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We are all suffering not just the elderly
There will be more than the elderly suffering hardship if they put the price up.
It’s not just the elderly, I’m renting at the moment and have a near 2 year old that I have to keep warm this winter. I’d wrap myself in a blanket to keep warm but she needs the heat. I cut down a huge amount last year, I limited myself to an hour a day on just to get a bit of heat into the place and piled on the clothes. The bills are high enough!!
Nicola i got news for you the people that were elected to run this country could not give two fcuks about you and your child they do not care but they will tell you they do .
Oh I know that quite well that’s why I didn’t vote for them to get in.
Nicola you is a class act
Its a con, bord gais is being sold by the goverment. With higher prices it will sell for more. Everyone change company and the rise wont go ahead
Change company all you like Bernard, Bord Gais still own the gas! If they higher the price of gas, Everyone has to pay.
Change broadband company all you want, Eircom still own the telegraph lines etc.
Love live my stove.
My mother is elderly, a small pension of about 200e a week, telephone, food, esb,gas, home insurance, propert tax,yes she gets the fuel allowence of 20e a week, how many bails of bricketts is that 4!! She has oil central heating at approx 500e to fill tank, most elderly have worked and paid there taxes all there lives, and now been screwed by the state for every last penny,this government takes the piss
She gets a minimum of €230 a week pension. Plus all the extras on top. What does she spend her money on? Maybe she should move to a smaller one bed place if she is having trouble heating her current property.
Thomas, that’s nothing but a smart arsed reply, you want a woman who’s worked…..actually its not worth getting into an argument with the likes of you
Thomas the c…
Thomas your such a dick. Stop picking on everyone.
I paid my gas bill last April and hadn’t paid it since September 2012. It was €300. We didn’t light the fire or have any other form of heating in the house.
It’s a warm well insulated house but I don’t get when people say they can’t afford to heat theirs. It was only €150 each for the 8 months for the two of us.
Loads of people get an extra €20 a week on their social welfare payments during the winter months.
If you’re saving for a shopping trip in New York and a two week holiday in Santa Ponza you might struggle to pay your bills alright.
Marie they do not give a flying fcuk about you or your family as long as the people keep watching RTE and keep listening to the media they are safe and their big pensions ,even tonight they are laughing at you .
Thomas I believe north korea are looking for new members, maybe you and this government can go over and join them
If I recall jk Rowling she said she used to sit in a cafe and have a cup of coffee each hour and wrote harry potter, it was cheaper than heating her house while the kids were at school.
It’s cheaper per hour to run your gas heater tan buy coffee
Thomas, the amount of gas you emit in your comments would heat a whole city!
Don’t feed the trolls
Thomas the troll is a bored teenager. Leave him be.
Yeah I’m the troll. The only person coming out with actual numbers, statistics and calculations to prove my point.
Most of these people have worked hard all their lives, and if the least their getting is government grants, then so be it. They’ve done their duties for this country and deserve to be treated well. We’ll all get old someday and I’d hope we’d be looked after too.
Yes I would agree with that sentiment.They deserve all the help the state can give in their twilight years.
People who want the gas increased must be unintelligent & need to be re-educated! Shame on them.
Keep an eye on your elder bro’ an sis’s, esp those living alone. While some may not like the direct approach of knocking on their door for privacy and safety reasons, try popping a note in their door saying who you are and where you live with a phone number and your close by to help. ;)
Eh lads and ladies thomas the tank reagan is a super troll, just be advised dont read or reply to anything he says.
How? They get their fuel bill paid for in their household benefits package. They are one segment of society that has been largely untouched.
That’s Bull Sh1t Thomas
Do you think we should go around touching elderly people?
Still no sign of Bord Gais massively overpaid workers being asked to take a wage cut.
They don’t get it paid in full
@thomas I’m sure you love your parents all the same
Get your facts straight before saying rent is zero!
My 90 year old uncle has to pay rent!
The only income he has is the pension! The benefits they do get have been cut, fuel, phone etc… He doesn’t use his phone but has to have the landline because its connected to his emergency alarm!
Elderly people do not have it that easy! And they do not get their fuel bill paid for them, they get a fuel allowance, none in the summer months, and it doesn’t cover all their heating costs!
Louise what rent? Local authority rent? That’s peanuts. They get €520 a year fuel allowance which would cover my costs.
Stop feeding the troll
Fuel bill paid??? What planet are you living on? The elderly have lost money from HP in the last 3 budgets!
They get €520 a year. That covers most of it. If they can’t cover it then the €1000 a month of pension should cover the rest easily.
They do not get it paid for, they get but a small percentage paid, than they pay the out standing, research facts before you shout off Thomas
My 76 year old mother pays 50€ a wk rent, 30 for gas and 14 for esb, she also has insurance, phone, food and her credit union also to pay out of her pension and im sure like everyone every wk there seems to be something else that needs to be paid, she raised 7 kids and worked full-time from the age of 13 till she reached retirement age, she can’t manage on her pension and it’s just lucky we have a big family and each give her 10€ a wk and one of my amazing nephews who is only 21 and gives his nanny 50€ a wk but not everyone has a good family.
Yes there are many like your mother that had to go out at a very early age and start working. Especially in Families that would have lost their parents at a young age. In those days there was no other way. The eldest in the family had to take the role of the parent.The pension they are getting in some cases does not go far enough. Pension should be linked to inflation.Prices are going up but it seems that the pension is not.A lot of the pensioners were denied a full dedication because of family issues like a bereavement and they had to go and work to bring food home.In many cases they were the bread winners at a very early stage in their lives. They deserve all they are getting now and more.
I totally agree Francis that pensions should track inflation. In 1997 the state pension was €99. Prices have increased by 48% since then which means the pension should be €146.
How do you suggest pensioners live on that amount Thomas? As I’ve already said my mothers bills are: €50 a wk for rent, €30 for gas, €14 for esb, I’m not sure how much on food but I’m guessing at least €40-50 now that’s just the essentials, she now has to pay €10 a month for her prescription her.
@Thomas “Yeah I’m the troll. The only person coming out with actual numbers, statistics and calculations to prove my point.”
Makey uppy numbers don’t count as statistics.
Once again the Elderly are being hit. Also people with young children who are way behind in their utility bill. Winter bills in Ireland can be very expensive because of harsh winters. The biggest bill is heating. Which ever source you use be it Gas . Electricity or Oil. They are all mighty expensive. The elderly need the heat because most of them cannot get around and one needs to move in the cold weather to keep warm. When there is an increase in Heating costs that should be taken into account. Up the allowance for the elderly with the increase to cushion the burden. On the other side of the coin we have many families with young children struggling also to meet utility bill. So hopefully the Government will take note.
T.R you are a no 1
A.H
The elderly have more ability to pay this than the rest of us.
It is said a lot of elderly are going without food to pay these bills. In order to understand their situation you have to be in their shoes .They would have been around when Taxes were very high and wages were not to good back in the 40s and fifties. So we must appreciate them and not take them for Granted. Like today many would have had to emigrate to get work like today there was no work in Ireland
Shaun you and Thomas should go off and do brokeback mountain together and give us all a break.
Why so? A senior citizen who doesn’t have an additional pensionn has 230 a week. Free travel. Medical card. No TV license. Heat allowance.
Yes they need more heat than a younger person but they are in the main well looked after.
Thomas have a w*nk while looking at your gas bill you need the release..
The home allowance applies to either Electricity or Gas not to both, and has been reduced considerably by this present government. Generalising about elderly people and what they may or may not endure is assuming what we think might be , not what we know. Assume= ass/u//me.
Elderly, and the families with childrens probably do not fit to new world order… so Gowernment trying to get rid of them. then they will have mostly people who working and and paying taxes, without getting benefits. And all the money goes to fat overseas boundholders…
Will hurt working people as well
@John – I agree. The elderly have spokespeople and good for them but this is hardship for the PAYE worker as well.
I’ve had enough…passport quick!
FG/L government are ripping us off with taxes that we are not really able to afford. They have bullied us into submission with taking these taxes out of our pensions, social welfare and salaries. The gas board have now taken a lead from them – bully the people as we did and there’ll be no problem getting your money. The gas increase is only the tip of the iceberg and is happening because of what we have allowed this government to get away with. The only solution is to take to the streets and demand the resignation of this government.
They do this every year and we do nothing about it and we can’t every one should get a pre paid meter for free and but money in it in the summer time it would help a little bit
Thats what I did!! ; )
Its a disgrace the price of gas going up wages and social welfare cuts property tax and water charges on the way budget day in oct we are all gonna be fleeced a long cold winter on the way in its digraceful we dont have a chance serious hard times ahead for all
But as usual we will sit on our arses and do nothing as usual
We need another mass. .
The reason for the rise is because the French company that was to buy it pulled out .. So the gas company want to up there income to entice company back in to buying..at our expense of course..
I think the energy regulator should find there balls and speak out-
Oh wait of course they won’t cause there in bed with them – when have they ever spoken out , I can’t recall
‘Wont someone think of the CEO’S!!’
just another rip off,if its not gas is expensive to buy on the open market we now have its expensive to transport it to ireland….esb will piggy back on this guarateed price rise and yes it is guaranteed as the energy regulator has never refused a price rise and bearing in mind he is there to protect the customer….well in 2015 we will have an additional price rise to look forward to as water bills will increase in year 1 as it to will use the same excuse as electricity companies use to increase their prices only were the electrical companies blame their increase on the price of fuel ie gas we will have irish water looking for an increase on the double as they will use the excuse that energy used to produce clean has increased ie gas and electricity….
My post has just been deleted..so much for freedom of speech the journal.ie.. Me no likey no more..bye bye.
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