Mr. Barry Andrews:

Many observers have noted there are voices within unionism that are interested in the practical implementation of the trade and co-operation agreement. I was surprised at the time that more attention was not paid to the strategic benefits that await Northern Ireland on being both in UK and having access to the European Single Market. I am surprised there is not more debate within unionism on that, but there are voices within unionism that recognise, and this comes out in polling all the time, that the harder the Brexit, the greater the support for unification of the island of Ireland, with the corollary being that if Brexit works or if it is seen to work it may strengthen the Union. I am somebody who supports the unification of the island of Ireland and I am surprised unionists are not strategising more about the practical implementation of the trade and co-operation agreement and all that goes with it. If we can achieve some progress on the protocol, the grace periods and all the constitutional anxieties that arise in unionism regarding its status within the UK and deal with some of those issues, we can move on to having proper discussions about the practical implementation of all the consequences of the withdrawal agreement.

I have spoken to many people in Northern Ireland. This issue is not necessarily something one can talk about in public but I have had very constructive discussions with people in North from all communities. Those discussions have informed the proposals we put before the European Parliament and they have been adopted in the resolution that accompanied ratification last week. Hopefully, in due course when we get past these protocol issues and restore stability that might be possible. In practical terms, while the Assembly elections in May next year do not permit a great degree of flexibility, it may be something that will take a little bit longer than originally anticipated but that does not mean it is any less relevant and 12 months is a very short period in Northern Ireland politics. We will stand by and carry on having continual and structured dialogue with our colleagues north of the Border and hopefully it will be to the benefit of all communities in Northern Ireland.