NI Protocol crisis: Businesses leaders call for calm

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have called for stability amid the developing crisis over the Northern Ireland Protocol today.

Yesterday evening, Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots instructed officials to end checks on goods going between Northern Ireland and Great Britain which is required under the agreement signed by the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Today, the DUP are expected to announce the resignation of the Northern Ireland First Minister which could trigger the collapse of the power-sharing institutions. 

Member of the UK Trade and Business Commission and Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Aodhán Connolly said,

“Our meetings with the EU, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for State have shown that both sides want a negotiated solution. What business needs is stability, certainty, simplicity and affordability. That must be the focus for our politicians so we can keep choice and affordability for NI households.

"We will continue to work with both sides to deliver a solution but any long term, workable solution must be a negotiated solution between the EU and UK that removes friction GB-NI.”