Debate contribution: UK-EU Customs Union

Debate contribution by Mr Declan Kearney on 9 February 2026.

MLA: Mr Declan Kearney
Party at the time: Sinn Féin
Date: 9 February 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: UK-EU Customs Union
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5369885

Text

In the decade since the British Government and DUP's reckless decision to leave the EU, we have all had to grapple with economic uncertainty and political and social instability. Fortunately, the regional economy in the North has been able to rely on protections from the Windsor framework. The regional economy continues to show growth due to the dual market access available through the Windsor framework. That is not to say that our economy has not faced challenges; it has. Businesses have had difficulty navigating the new post-Brexit realities. Sinn Féin welcomes the attempts by the British Government to reset relations with the European Union, and we encourage the British Government and the EU to adopt every pragmatic measure that will assist in reducing and ending existing trade frictions. That is why we, as I have said in the past, welcomed the Murphy review, which called for the one-stop shop option to help simplify administrative processes for local businesses. Pragmatic and practical proposals have been supported in the Assembly in recent months. For example, Sinn Féin has advocated having a European Commission office in Belfast. That would complement the Murphy recommendation — that is, if the British Government are prepared to support its implementation, and there is a question over that. We have also called for observer status and representation at the European Parliament, and that is with a view to maximising our input to post-Brexit processes on the part of the EU that have an impact on our political, economic and social circumstances here. The motion calls on the British Government to commence negotiations with the European Union to establish a UK-EU customs union, but, just a few days ago, the current Labour Administration rejected such a measure despite, as one of the Members who spoke earlier pointed out, positive indications of a willingness on the part of the European Commission to discuss working together on developing a customs union initiative. The apparent British Government unwillingness to engage positively with that option once again highlights the ongoing chaos and contradiction caused by the Brexit disaster, and that will continue to be the case for as long as English politicians retain any influence over the affairs of all citizens in this part of Ireland. Brexit is a by-product of partition. Brexit and British Government decision-making will continue to impact negatively on society in the North. English politicians, whether Labour, Tory or Reform, will never act in the interests of citizens here, regardless of our different political allegiances. Therefore, we have a responsibility to open the most practical and pragmatic route to rejoining the EU bloc. That will be in the best interests of our businesses, workers and families. Unsurprisingly, this British Government are not open to that option, because the British Labour Party has allowed itself to become subordinate to the Brexit consequence of the Tory civil war, which was the catalyst for bringing it about. Brexit was never about new economic options or a nirvana. Brexit was all about ideological divisions in the Tory party, and Cameron's strategy for seeing that off was to go with the Brexit referendum. In 2017, the European Commission announced that, in the event of a united Ireland, under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the entire territory of Ireland would be given automatic membership of the EU. Therefore, we have a definitive, automatic and legal route back into the European Union. That can be achieved through full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. We can do better. We must do better for workers and businesses in the North. That is denied to us by the present status quo. Setting a date for a referendum on constitutional change and commencing the transition to a new Ireland under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement is the key. It is the key to removing the disaster of Brexit, the toxic influence of English politics and the regressive role of every successive British Government in our affairs.

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

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