US congressman to warn Irish Government of NI protocol concerns
A US politician with concerns over the UK Government’s stance on the NI Protocol is in Dublin today for talks with the Irish Foreign Affairs Minister.
Richard Neale, an Irish-American, is the chair of the Committee on Ways and Means.
The politician, who is here as part of a 10-strong bi-partisan group of 10 members of congress, is due to speak to Simon Coveney today (Monday) about Brexit, the future of Europe and the enduring ties between Ireland and the United States.
The visit follows the DUP’s decision not to nominate ministers to the Northern Ireland Executive, and the British Government subsequently saying it will unilaterally override parts of the protocol if no agreement can be reached with Brussels.
Such a prospect has horrified many members of the US Congress and earlier this week Speaker Pelosi tweeted there would be no US-UK Free Trade Agreement if London “chooses to undermine the Good Friday accords”.
The DUP has insisted that Unionism in Northern Ireland does not support the Northern Ireland protocol and argues that it is what undermines the peace-accords here by altering the constitution of the UK.
The party says that it will not return to power-sharing until the concerns of unionism have been addressed through adequately altering the contentious protocol.
Responding to a tweet from another US politician, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has said that implementing the protocol as it is will lead to an 'economic tsunami.'
The delegation is expected to visit Belfast on Thursday.
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