Minister Lyons to bring Brexit port report to Executive table
Staff were removed from Belfast and Larne over safety concerns last week
Last updated 9th Feb 2021
The Executive was due to get a report from interim Agriculture Minister, Gordon Lyons, today (Tuesday) about the ongoing issue about port staff being removed from Belfast and Larne amid safety concerns.
Officials from Mid and East Antrim Council, Stormont's Department of Agriculture and the EU Commission all stopped working at the facilities, which conduct checks required as part of Brexit's controversial Northern Ireland Protocol.
Inspections of animal-based food produce arriving at both ports were also suspended last Monday.
Former Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots, was the one who made the call to withdraw staff.
Mr Lyons took over the role last week as Mr Poots took leave for medical treatment following a cancer diagnosis.
Environmental health staff from the Council returned to their duties at Larne Port on Friday.
It has not been confirmed when other officials might return to work.
First Minister, Arlene Foster, defended her colleges decision yesterday (Monday) in the Assembly.
She said: “I think there was enough concerns for people to act proactively to try and make sure the staff were safe and that is of course should always be the priority that our staff are protected.
“Mid and East Antrim after carrying out their own investigations and indeed communicating with the Police Service of Northern Ireland have now released their staff back to the Port of Larne.
“And I do understand the Minister for Agriculture will come to the Executive with his plan and I think that its right Executive colleges have the change to consider what he has to say first.”
Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd has accused Mr Lyons of using port staff as pawns in the DUP’s campaign against the NI Protocol.
He suggested Minister Lyons may be acting contrary to the ministerial code.
He said: “The information given to this assembly and to Mid and East Antrim Council was based on half-truths, misinformation and erroneous information.''
The Sinn Fein assembly member added: “Workers were used as pawns in a very, very cruel game.''
They were withdrawn after threatening graffiti appeared last month.
Mr O'Dowd suggested the danger was “non-existent''.
“The fact (is) that there is no credible threat, which has been stated by the PSNI, and the fact that they allowed it half way around the world before the truth got its pants on, that that agenda of those workers being removed suits your political agenda.
“And rather than dealing with the facts, minister, you are allowing these non-existent threats to carry forward a political agenda, which would be contrary to your statutory duty and the code that you have as a minister.''
Mr Lyons said it was a “disgraceful'' assertion.
“I have very clearly demonstrated staff safety comes first.''
He said a process had been put in place which he had not interfered with.
The Minister said his department was in discussions with police and workers' unions.
“I find that an entirely appropriate response to what has gone on.''
He said the graffiti was very much viewed as a threat and it was only right that precautionary measures were taken, and the risk assessed.
He said any mitigations needed would be put in place.
“It is important that we take precautions and we put the safety and wellbeing of our staff first and foremost and that is what we have done.''