Certainty not bluster needed over Brexit says South Down MP Chris Hazzard.
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has said the business community and others in the North need certainty as the clock ticks towards a potential catastrophic crash-out Brexit.
The South Down MP said: “The remarks from the EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier today on the consequences of Brexit for Ireland, where he described it as an existential risk to the peace process, highlights the importance of this issue as we move closer to a potential crash-out Brexit.
“To date, the approach from the British government has been reckless and showed complete and utter disregard for the north, its economy and our peace agreements.
“Today, in the British parliament there was more rhetoric and bluster from Boris Johnston, promising legislation on Brexit in the coming months, but the clock is ticking.
“The business community in the North need answers not empty words.
“They are already dealing with COVID-19 and now they are facing the huge uncertainty of Brexit.
“The Irish Protocol contains unique protections for the North ensuring there will be no hardening of the border, that our economy and the Good Friday Agreement is protected.
“That protocol needs to be maintained and implemented in full in order to provide certainty to people here,” said Mr Hazzard.
In a recent Tweet, Michele Barnier, EU chief negotiator, said: “The #Brexit transition ends 31.12.2020. In 5 months,
leaves
“including the Single Market and Customs Union.
“Changes are inevitable, with or without agreement on the new partnership. Companies and citizens must get ready.”
Find guidance from @EU_Commission at: http://europa.eu/!mh89KD
The Fisheries Bill running through the Parliament, the first major fisheries legislation in nearly 40 years, has passed the House of Lords and has now entered the House of Commons for further scrutiny.
The Bill was published on 2 July 2020 by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Victoria Prentis MP, and Lord Gardiner of Kimble.
The flagship legislation, which creates the powers for the UK to operate as an independent coastal state and manage its fish stocks sustainably outside the EU, has today been introduced to the House of Commons for its First Reading.
The Bill, which passed Third Reading in the Lords on 1 July, ends current automatic rights for EU vessels to fish in British waters.
This point is one of the key issues that Micele BArier is adamant must change… and Boris Johnston is refusing to give ground and sell out the UK fishing industry.
If access to UK waters for foreign vessels is negotiated, the Bill will also enable the Fisheries Administrations to ensure that foreign vessels follow the same rules as UK vessels.
The legislation will ensure that fish stocks, and the marine environment, are better protected for future generations with new powers to set UK fishing opportunities and days at sea, new measures for the Devolved Administrations, as well as a single set of UK-wide fisheries objectives.
Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis said: “I am eccouraged to see the progress of the Fisheries Bill through Parliament. This bill offers us the opportunity to set a gold standard for sustainable fisheries and gives us the powers to protect our precious fish stocks while enabling our seafood sector to thrive.
“Now that we have left the EU, we have the opportunity to create a more rwsilient and profitable fishing industry leaving behind the outdated Common Fisheries Policy.”
UK Can Develop Sustainable Fisheries Again Says Lord Gardiner.
In the House of Lords, Lord Gardiner made clear that the Bill gave the UK the opportunity to develop a vibrant and sustainable fishing industry and gave the UK the power to strengthen our protection of the marine environment, whilst providing a healthy and valuable food source to millions.
The government is now considering carefully the amendments made during the Bill’s passage in the House of Lords as it enters its final stages.
The Bill’s provisions on sustainable fishing will be underpinned by the requirement for the UK government and the Devolved Administrations to publish a Joint Fisheries Statement to coordinate fisheries management where appropriate, and Fisheries Management plans to achieve sustainable stocks.
The Bill will also ensure:
- EU vessels’ automatic access right to fish in UK waters is removed
- Foreign boats will be required to be licensed to fish in UK waters and will have to follow the UK’s rules if access to UK waters is agreed
- Fisheries will be managed sustainably
- The UK fisheries administrations will seek to ensure increased benefits from fish caught by UK boats in a way that respects the devolution settlements
- Sensitive marine species, such as dolphins, are protected and the bycatch of unwanted fish reduced
- The UK fisheries administrations will continue to collect robust scientific data on fish stocks and shares it to manage shared stocks sustainably
- UK boats can continue to access any part of UK waters, as they do now regardless, whether they are registered in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
But as the Fisheries Bill now reaches its final stages in the Commons, on Monday this week, SNP leader Nichola Sturgeon has fired a broadside at PM Boris Johnston threatening to reject the Bill at the vote on the grounds that it would again compromise the Scottish and UK fishermen by facing excessive tariffs to access the European markets and putting the fishing industry in a difficult position not explaining where the financial support will come from for the industry after 31st December this year.
