Debate contribution: Windsor Framework: Ongoing Harm

Debate contribution by Mr Declan McAleer on 17 November 2025.

MLA

Mr Declan McAleer

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

17 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Windsor Framework: Ongoing Harm

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5245279

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In 2016, the people of the North voted decisively to remain in the European Union. That democratic expression still resonates today, and many of us continue to believe that our long-term future will be best served by eventually rejoining the EU. We note with interest and encouragement that EU leaders have given firm assurances that, in the event of Irish unity, the North of Ireland would resume full EU membership automatically. In the meantime, the Windsor framework has provided us with a means to deal with the trading realities created by Brexit, prevented the re-emergence of a hard border on the island of Ireland, safeguarded the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement and, crucially, preserved dual market access for businesses operating in this region. Dual access is a unique economic advantage that we must protect and maximise. From an agriculture point of view, for example, we export a third of the milk that we produce in the North to the South of Ireland for processing. That is 800 million litres a year. It is important to acknowledge that the earlier backstop arrangement that was negotiated by former Prime Minister Theresa May would have prevented many of the trade divergences that we now face. Unfortunately, MPs opted for a harder Brexit. As a result, we are dealing with challenges today, including those relating to veterinary medicines, that could otherwise have been avoided. We recognise that Brexit continues to present significant challenges in relation to trade agreements. Those are not abstract concerns; they affect farmers, manufacturers, hauliers, pharmacists and families in every community. Throughout the process, we have consistently urged the British Government and the European Union to find practical, long-term solutions that do not undermine the essential mitigations currently in place to reduce the negative impacts of Brexit. Many of those challenges could be eliminated if the British Government were willing to make a political decision to align with EU rules and regulations. Such alignment would reduce trade friction and bring clarity and stability to our business sectors. The EU-UK Joint Committee remains a vital mechanism, especially for agriculture and agri-food trade. Its work has been instrumental in identifying and adopting solutions that strengthen food security and support rural communities. We acknowledge its importance and encourage its continued use. We know that an EU-UK veterinary agreement would significantly ease pressures, yet the British Government continue to oppose such an arrangement. That is disappointing, but it should not deter us from pressing for progress. There has been some improvement in the risk of medicines being discontinued, with supply lines now able to reroute through the South rather than Britain. That is welcome, but challenges remain, including concerns about certain vaccines such as the botulism vaccine. It is important that the EU and the British Government continue negotiations so that the disruptions are further reduced and possibly eliminated.

475 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:48 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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