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UK Prime Minister Is Prepared to Invoke Article 16 to Ensure No Barrier Down the Irish Sea

3rd February 2021
UK prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Irish protocol to ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea. Above: Belfast Harbour along with the Port of Larne, where on Monday, threats were made to customs border post staff who were stood down from duties due to concerns for their security.  UK prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Irish protocol to ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea. Above: Belfast Harbour along with the Port of Larne, where on Monday, threats were made to customs border post staff who were stood down from duties due to concerns for their security. Credit: Belfast Harbour

The British prime minister Boris Johnson has said he is prepared to invoke Article 16 of the Northern Irish protocol to ensure there is no barrier down the Irish Sea.

As The Irish Times writes, Mr Johnson told the House of Commons he will “do everything we need to do whether legislatively or indeed by invoking Article 16 of the Protocol to ensure that there is no barrier down the Irish Sea”.

DUP MP Ian Paisley, who represents North Antrim, claimed people in Northern Ireland were being made to “feel like foreigners in our own country” by post-Brexit rules.

Addressing Mr Johnson, he said: “Prime Minister, you say that your commitment to Northern Ireland is unshakeable. But I speak for all of my constituents today when I tell you that the Protocol has betrayed us and has made us feel like foreigners in our country. Click to continue story.

As according to BBC News, the issue of port staff returning to work depends on conclusions by police, click here for more. 

The situation follows on Monday, when threats made to port customs border post staff led to personnel stood down from duties due to concerns for their safety and security.

In the meantime despite the incidents, goods continue to flow through both Belfast Harbour and Larne as the BBC also reports.

Asides these ports, only Warrenpoint Port (story on volumes) as Afloat reported today, has ro-ro facilities in the North with the other remaining ports represented by London-Derry (Foyleport) and Coleraine.  

Published in Ports & Shipping
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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