Northern Ireland. Forget the Sermons - First read the small print.

 

FORGET THE SERMONS - FIRST READ THE SMALL PRINT

 by

Mike Clitherow

Since before the 2016 referendum and continuing non-stop, those against GB leaving the EU, Including -  Joe Biden and other US Democrats , most EU bureaucrats, several European politicians (particularly the French)  and of course our own Re-joiners  - have been pursuing the following rhetoric:

“You must not go against or interfere with the 1998  Good Friday Agreement 

There must be No Hard Border between Northern Ireland and the  Republic thereby ensuring peace “.

Well, we all agree with that don’t we!

 BUT the question is how many of these people have actually sat down and studied

in detail what is actually in this document?.  Given that within the GFA there is a

total lack of references to trade - I suggest not many have actually read it.

They are simply using this agreement to weaponize and  “beat up” the UK  for daring

to leave the EU. Others particularly Sleepy Joe see it as a route to a united Ireland

 The point is that now We the Little people need to ask “where is the evidence that any part of this peace agreement is threatened by the UK not being part of this inward-looking Trade Block called the EU and us wanting the whole of our country to be recognised and operate as a free independent sovereign state making its own laws and trading internally without interference ? ”

Have these people read and understood the GFA?

Having read the agreement some years ago and again recently – On behalf of the Little people I have some queries for the experts to answer.

• QUESTION - Where is trade/commercial activity mentioned in this document?

Yes we were part of the EU free trade area at that the time it was signed but between

the North & South there are already two different - currencies - corporation taxes and VAT rates - As well as different fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties none are mentioned in this agreement.

However, we have manged to work these between our two countries for many years

with little problem.

ANSWER - there is no mention of trade and commercial activity in the GFA.

 The Good Friday Agreement – is a fantastic declaration of peace and disarmament

by both the authorities and the terrorist gangs of both persuasions including release

of prisoners plus the future prosperity of N I.  - That’s it!

 Hard Border -  Part of this disarmament and standing down in this agreement is by implication to get rid of any so-called Hard Border  by withdrawing the military and their infrastructure along the divide between the North and South.

It’s gone!!!  never to return we hope.

 This peace agreement is wonderfully worded over 35 pages and here are some of the clauses that jump out.

·         Recognise the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of N I with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue their support of the Union of GB or a sovereign united Ireland.

·         Democratically elected Assembly in N I - to protect the rights and  interests of all sides of the community.

·         The Westminster Parliament (whose power to make legislation for Northern Ireland would remain unaffected)

·         ….the British Government will pursue broad policies for sustained economic growth and stability in N. I.

Yes very selective quotes but for sure very important as they are about freedom/peace and the NI population’s ability to make choices whilst remaining in the UK for the foreseeable future.

OK included in the GFE is reference to working with the EU but only in as much as a British Irish Council to consider the EU dimensions in relevant matters…... No mention of a role for the ECJ.

 Also, two excellent sections on Decommissioning and Security BUT still no reference to cross border trade.

If you haven’t already done so please read the whole thing yourself then try to figure out how will trading between two countries – one in the EU one out - differ to how smoothly it happens in the majority of the world and how it will it cause murder and bloodshed?

 IN CONCLUSION

We of course all know that North to South checks on goods if kept in line with what

happens in most countries internationally would be approx. 2% of all shipments 

this can mostly be done electronically  and the use of trusted exporter schemes,

Any physical checks if needed can be done prior to shipment or on arrival in the

Republic away from the border.

THIS THEN CAN NEVER BE CONSIDERED AS A HARD BORDER

– check out the Switzerland and Norway interface with the EU.

It’s up to the EU (represented by the Republic Ireland) to sort out the mechanisms if they

don’t trust the UK not to send them products and produce that will harm their population and environment. Plus, the South North movement of goods would be very light touch on the British side.

 We hear the cry  BUT BREXIT has changed everything – NO IT HASN’T  - this agreement is and will be respected in full.  

NOW:  Are all people and groups mentioned in paragraph 1 saying such a system would cause the IRA to start bombing and shooting people again?

 ·         My personal view is No as any shipment delays and refusal of entry would be instigated by the Republic for goods going South. Going the other way would be no real problem.

·         If people really believe yes – then why is the future of 1,900,000+ peoples future for economic growth and the ability to have their own elected politicians  represent them (rather than interference from Brussels and the ECJ) is all about pacifying a small terrorist organisation – makes no sense.

·  The real threat is very rowdy demonstrations by Unionists if we do not stop this nonsense of a  border down the North sea and therefore within our own country.

Of course, all above will be called a simplification of the situation

– BUT STOP and STEP BACK  – perhaps a simple thought process works.

 

Feed-back welcomed.

 

Mike Clitherow

 

Northern Ireland Protocol. By Mike Clitherow

 

N I PROTOCOL

- WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS RULING HAS SAVED ANYONE FROM BEING EXPOSED TO SUB STANDARD/DANGEROUS PRODUCTS???

 

We have heard so much from the EU Big Wigs and European politicians about how important it is to have checks on goods going from one part of the United Kingdom to another – mainland UK to Northern Ireland  - it is therefore vital to actually research  how effective these checks have been.  For example, how many people in the EU 27 and particularly the Irish have been protected from poisoning or their environment contaminated from products or produce shipped from the mainland. Which surely is the whole point of why inspections were demanded - isn’t it ???

 The way to establish this is for the Civil Service to research what percentage of products since the start of this EU operation have been refused entry for being genuinely sub-standard. That is taking aside the nonsense of the wrong colour ink on some of the paperwork or not being give 10 out of 10 by the EU  for other “naughty boy” homework errors in the huge volume of pointless form filling.

 The vast majority of us have no dispute with the theory that this trading block (can’t call it a county just yet) wanting to maintain standards for their member states is an understandable goal. I myself over many years was involved in having products produced in the Far East and then shipping them to several different EU countries. Although it’s worth noting that some of the rules to be able to obtain the laboratory certification (and therefore use the CE marking) for my products were to say the least “over the top” and not in line with other international standards but were certainly expensive and time consuming.

OK that was what was demanded and to complete  sales legally  we went with the flow and had to suffer delays and reduced profit margins – such is business.

Now if the EU protocol for NI is to protect the EU population  and is not there as some devious device to punish us for daring to leave the EU (surely that could not be the case) let’s now see the results of what they have achieved.

I believe this will be a very small percentage, as if products complied before we left the EU it is very unlikely suppliers’ standards would have dropped – realistically the reverse would be true to make sure of supply continuity.

My contention is that these bureaucratic rules have achieved virtually nothing since their introduction in terms of saving people’s health and the environment. Plus, the likely small % of items that may have been rejected are probably only marginally outside the regs. for purely technical/paper work reasons and would have done no harm to anyone anyway if they had not been checked.

 By getting these figures published in the Media the NI protocol  in respect of products/items from the UK will be shown up for  what it is.

 I had an opportunity to put this point to David Frost at the Cons. Conference after his presentation at the Centre for Brexit fringe meeting (he made a great speech BTW) and asked him to release these numbers to the Media.

He acknowledged this could be an important point and would see what he could do. 

I have since dropped him a line to emphasise the importance of testing the validity of these border checks by using the numbers – Of course he is a very busy man - let’s see if he has time to follow this through.

 BTW – has anyone heard in any speech from Mr Sefcovic /other EU bureaucrats or any French  politician utter the words “We acknowledge that Northern Ireland is part of the independent sovereign state of the United Kingdom ”

Don’t hold your breath as for sure they seem not to want to admit this basic fact – perhaps they don’t know.

 Anyway 16 has always been one of my favourite numbers – hope to hear it quoted again soon.

 Your feedback is welcomed.

Mike Clitherow