Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue here seems to be that Edwin Poots went completely outside his remit. He claims to have got independent legal advice outside of his Department, which is quite unusual for any Minister to be claiming as a basis for carrying out such a dastardly deed. I understand the British Government has the option to override a decision made by a Stormont Minister in the circumstances where it is in breach of an international agreement. Have we received anything back from the British Government in respect of what its intentions would be if, following the instruction given by Edwin Poots, officials in the North choose to try to implement that and withdraw these checks? Is there a second option that the British Government could step in and do something about it?

On the wider point, I am very concerned that all of this has taken a very bad turn in the last few hours and few days for no apparent reason. It is highly disrespectful to the process in which the European Union and Ms Truss are engaged for the DUP to act this way.

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