Debate contribution: EU Office in Belfast

Debate contribution by Mr Declan Kearney on 12 January 2026.

MLA: Mr Declan Kearney
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 12 January 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: EU Office in Belfast
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5312189

Text

Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle.
It is an established matter of fact that Brexit has been an economic, social and political disaster for citizens and businesses here and even in Britain. Yes, Britain got Brexit, and now its economy is tanking. It is also a fact, however, that the North was pulled out of the European Union against the wishes of the majority of voters in this region. That is also the position that is held by the greater majority of Members of the Assembly. Every party in the Assembly acknowledges that Brexit has also created a democratic deficit. I have said previously that the difference, of course, is in how we define and address the nature of that deficit. It is, frankly, bizarre that the DUP and other Brexit cheerleaders, who were cautioned at the time about the predictable damage that its onset would cause for businesses, workers and families, continue now to resist any practical solution that would mitigate the harm that Brexit has done. All of that has been reflected in the debate this evening. The only thing that is worse than missing the point is to deliberately miss the point. This is not about symbolism; it is about being pragmatic and solution-focused. Other contributors have correctly reminded us this evening that we once had a European Commission office in Belfast. Having another office is about access. It is about bringing added value to how we collectively address the development of mitigations to deal with the frictions that have flowed as a consequence of Brexit.
Yes, go ahead.
Had the Member allowed me to continue, perhaps he would have been enlightened by what I am about to say. Perhaps he will reflect on what I am about to say. One side of the House wants to reduce the issue — you are one of the people who does it — to zero-sum constitutional issues. You play the alarmist game, and you and others engage directly in fake news. Since its imposition, conversely, Sinn Féin, other parties here, the Irish Government and the EU have collectively sought to mitigate the worst effects of Brexit. Now, the mechanisms exist to do that through the protocol and the Windsor framework. While the regional economy continues to grow because of — yes, hear this — dual market access, our businesses have identified challenges brought about by Brexit. That is an inevitable consequence of the harm that was caused. While the Windsor framework has protected us from the worst harms of Brexit, our businesses are now asking us to do more to help them to navigate the new trading realities that they have to face.
Therefore, our collective focus should be on identifying pragmatic and practical solutions to address the challenges that are associated with this post-Brexit context, and that extends to technical issues that our businesses have identified as they navigate the new trade, investment and regulatory arrangements that have been imposed on all of us. The recent Murphy review concluded that having a one-stop shop to simplify administrative processes would be an advantage. I agree. That recommendation should be implemented, and establishing a European Union office in Belfast as a further resource for our businesses and communities is the next logical step to take.
Brexit was an act of self-inflicted economic and social harm. To the DUP and others, you got it wrong, and today it is equally wrong to conflate pragmatic solutions being proposed in a motion such as this with matters of sovereignty and fake news and Project Fear. Ten years on, let us accept the reality that we face and finally start working together to support local businesses. That is why it makes sense to support the motion and collectively endorse the call for the British Government and the European Union in a collegiate way to establish a European Commission office here in this region.

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

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