COUNCIL staff at Northern Ireland's Larne Port have been withdrawn from inspection duties amid concerns for their safety following a rise in anti-Protocol sentiment.
The decision was made following an "upsurge in sinister and menacing behaviour in recent weeks", as graffiti appeared last month referencing tensions about the Northern Ireland Protocol and calling port staff "targets".
The council said the ongoing situation has caused "extreme distress and worry to staff", and it had no option but to withdraw 12 staff from their duties.
On Monday evening, food checks at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended following the move.
Meanwhile, newspapers yesterday blasted the EU over threats to disrupt Britain's vaccine supply amid its own jab crisis.
After being told they were only going to receive a fraction of the UK-made AstraZeneca jab they'd ordered, the EU made an astonishing threat to stop 3.5million doses of the Pfizer jab from reaching the UK.
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- Chiara Fiorillo
PORT WORKERS IN SHOCK OVER THREATS, SAYS UNION
Port workers could become very anxious over threatening loyalist behaviour, a senior trade unionist said.
Patrick Mulholland, deputy general secretary at the NIPSA union, represents some of the workers at the ports.
He said: "They, first of all, tend to be in shock because they suddenly find themselves under a level of threat they would not expect to be under. These are ordinary working people.
"They then become very anxious because they do not know how this is going to work out and they do want the greatest possible level of support and assurance from their fellow workers and people in society that they have got their backs.
"That is very important."
- Chiara Fiorillo
SITUATION UNDER REVIEW
Mr Poots' Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said on Monday that it had decided "in the interests of the wellbeing of staff to temporarily suspend physical inspections of products of animal origin at Larne and Belfast" pending further discussions with the PSNI.
A Daera spokesman said: "The situation will be kept under review and, in the meantime, full documentary checks will continue to be carried out as usual."
- Chiara Fiorillo
NO THREATS
The senior Democratic Unionist, who stepped down at midnight ahead of undergoing cancer surgery, added: "Ultimately the people who are doing their jobs, who are going to their work, are not their enemies.
"They are people who are simply carrying out a job, whether it is the Department of Agriculture, the local council or Food Standards Agency."
He added: "Those people should be allowed to do their jobs in peace. Any threat against them should be withdrawn and allow people to carry on their duties."
- Chiara Fiorillo
MINISTER APPEALS FOR CALM AFTER BREXIT CHECKS AT PORTS SUSPENDED
An outgoing Stormont minister has appealed for calm heads after Brexit port checks were suspended over threatening loyalist behaviour.
Edwin Poots said there is anger in the unionist community over new "disproportionate" Irish Sea regulatory and customs checks required under the terms of the divorce deal's Northern Ireland Protocol.
Former agriculture minister Mr Poots said: "It is difficult for politicians to (control) the level of anger that is in the community in respect of this and it is a time for calm heads and a time for wise behaviour, but these things have certainly created a lot of tension in the community."
- Chiara Fiorillo
MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR UK BUSINESSES
International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said joining the CPTPP will create more opportunities for UK businesses.
She said: “Joining will create unheralded opportunities for UK businesses that simply weren’t there as part of the EU.
“It will mean lower tariffs for car manufacturers and whisky producers, and better access for our brilliant services providers, delivering quality jobs and greater prosperity for people here at home.
“We’re at the front of the queue and look forward to starting formal negotiations in the coming months.”
International Trade Secretary Liz TrussCredit: PA:Press Association - Chiara Fiorillo
GUIDANCE FOR BEEKEPERS TO COME
A department spokesperson said it will provide guidance to bee importers and beekeepers as soon as possible.
It is the responsibility of the importer to ensure that goods dispatched from Northern Ireland meet the definition of NI qualifying goods or meet import requirements, they added.
- Chiara Fiorillo
LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION
Since the end of the transition period, only queen bees can be imported into Great Britain, rather than colonies and packages of bees.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it is aware of the issue and is working with the devolved administrations to find a solution.
"I am a passionate beekeeper, I've been doing it for nearly 20 years," Mr Murfet told PA.
He is managing director of Bee Equipment, based near Canterbury, and every year he imports large numbers of bees from breeders in Italy, where the climate is warmer.
- Chiara Fiorillo
BEEKEEPER IN BREXIT ROW WITH GOVERNMENT
A beekeeper trying to bring 15 million bees into the UK says he has been told they may be seized and burned because of post-Brexit laws.
Patrick Murfet wants to import the baby Italian bees for his Kent business and to help farmers pollinate valuable crops.
But new laws that came into effect after the UK left the single market mean that bringing bees into the country is banned.
- Chiara Fiorillo
CONCERNS UK COULD RUN OUT OF PRAWN SUPPLY
Henrik Leth, of supplier Polar Seafood, said: “Our UK stocks could soon run out.
“Without Greenland we might be left with inconsistent quality and no guarantee on volume.”
- Chiara Fiorillo
PRAWN CRISIS
Britain is facing a post-Brexit prawn crisis.
Large UK tariffs on fish caught around Greenland have seen prices soar.
Greenland is diverting supplies to Europe — leaving a shortage for shops and sandwich makers.
They want ministers to cut the temporary 20 per cent tariff to safeguard the grub and protect 2,000 jobs.
Greenland’s prawns account for 60 per cent of our market.
Credit: Alamy - Chiara Fiorillo
NEW PLANS
Spurrell can no longer sell cheese gift boxes worth around 25 pounds to the EU through his online shop because each consignment needs to be accompanied by a health certificate signed off by a vet that costs 180 pounds per consignment, regardless of size.
The company has therefore put on hold plans for a 1 million pound new distribution centre in Macclesfield, northern England, and is instead considering setting up its own hub in France, where it can still ship on a wholesale basis.
- Chiara Fiorillo
BREXIT SHUTS OFF MARKET FOR ENGLISH CHEESE TRUCKLES
An English company that has long been selling its wax-coated mini barrels of cheese directly to European consumers says it can no longer do so because of Brexit, pushing it to consider new investment in France.
Last year The Cheshire Cheese company sold £180,000 pounds worth of artisan truckles to European Union customers, but Managing Director Simon Spurrell says that is no longer possible.
He said: "That's completely gone. At the moment we've had to just switch that light out."
- Ben Hill
EU 'MISTAKE'
The EU's bid to override part of the Northern Ireland protocol on Brexit was "a mistake that shouldn't have happened", Ireland's Foreign Minister said.
On Friday night the EU was forced into an embarrassing U-turn after invoking Article 16 of the protocol in a bid to control the flow of vaccines from the bloc.
The decision was swiftly reversed following condemnation from London, Dublin and Belfast.
- Ben Hill
CHEESED OFF
An English company that has long been selling its wax-coated mini barrels of cheese directly to European consumers says it can no longer do so because of Brexit, pushing it to consider new investment in France.
Last year The Cheshire Cheese company sold 180,000 pounds ($247,000) worth of artisan truckles — the traditional name for cheese shaped like a barrel — to European Union customers, but Managing Director Simon Spurrell says that is no longer possible.
"That's completely gone. At the moment we've had to just switch that light out," said Spurrell, surrounded by milking cows at the company's creamery near Matlock, northern England.
- Ben Hill
BREXIT CHECKS
Police are to hold talks later today with partner agencies after physical Brexit checks at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended amid safety concerns.
Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said on Monday it had decided "in the interests of the wellbeing of staff to temporarily suspend physical inspections of products of animal origin at Larne and Belfast" pending further discussions with the PSNI.
A Daera spokesman said: "The situation will be kept under review and in the meantime full documentary checks will continue to be carried out as usual."
- Joseph Gamp
WHAT IS THE TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP (CPTPP)?
Membership of the Comprehensive And Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) removes tariffs on 95 per cent of goods traded between members and offers greater access to nearly £9trillion of GDP covered by its members.
The EU trade bloc in terms of GDP was worth £14.5trillion in 2019 when the UK was still a member. The UK GDP was £2.2trillion in 2019.
Benefits of being in the CPTPP will include eliminating tariffs quicker on our exports such as whisky, allowing data to flow freely and letting cars made in the UK use more Japanese parts under “Rules of Origin” laws.
- Joseph Gamp
POLICE TO HOLD TALKS WITH AGENCIES AFTER PHYSICAL BREXIT CHECKS AT PORTS SUSPENDED
Police are to hold talks later today with partner agencies after physical Brexit checks at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended amid safety concerns.
Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said on Monday it had decided "in the interests of the wellbeing of staff to temporarily suspend physical inspections of products of animal origin at Larne and Belfast" pending further discussions with the PSNI.
A Daera spokesman said: "The situation will be kept under review and in the meantime full documentary checks will continue to be carried out as usual."
Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots said he had taken the decision to withdraw personnel at the ports in consultation with his staff.
- Joseph Gamp
SCOTCH WHISKY LOSSES AFTER US TARIFFS REACH HALF A BILLION POUNDS, BODY WARNS
Losses to Scotch whisky exports after tariffs were imposed by the United States have reached half a billion pounds, according to an industry body.
New figures suggest exports of single malt Scotch whisky have fallen by more than a third – amounting to more than £500 million – since a 25% tariff was imposed in October 2019.
The tariffs of £5.6 billion were initially introduced by the administration of former president Donald Trump, in retaliation for state support given to Airbus, with products including Scotch whisky badly affected by the measures.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) said distillers are "continuing to pay the price for an aerospace dispute that has nothing to do" with them.
Chief executive Karen Betts has described the current situation as "unsustainable".
- Joseph Gamp
FOSTER ACCUSES PM OF 'DERELICTION OF DUTY'
Arlene Foster has accused Boris Johnson of a dereliction of duty and claimed he is not doing enough to address unionist "anguish" over Irish Sea trade disruption.
Northern Ireland's First Minister demanded action from the Prime Minister following the EU's "horrific" botched move to invoke a mechanism to suspend elements of the new post-Brexit arrangements.
The European Commission was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on Friday when it backtracked on an attempt to restrict the free flow of coronavirus vaccine across the Irish border.
Mrs Foster told BBC Radio Ulster: "I have to say directly to the Prime Minister and to the UK Government that it is a dereliction of duty for a prime minister of the United Kingdom to stand by and allow United Kingdom citizens to suffer, and that is what he is allowing to do at present, so therefore action is absolutely needed."
Senior European politicians have conceded it was a mistake to try to unilaterally suspend part of Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol to prevent the region being used as backdoor to move inoculations from the bloc into the UK.
- Joseph Gamp
SIMON COVENEY: TRIGGERING ARTICLE 16 ‘A MISTAKE THAT SHOULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED’
The EU’s bid to override part of the Northern Ireland protocol on Brexit was “a mistake that shouldn’t have happened”, Ireland’s Foreign Minister said.
Speaking on Monday, Simon Coveney said the protocol should not have been touched without consulting the British and Irish governments.
He said: “I think it was a mistake that everybody recognises should not have happened.”I mean in simple terms, you do not touch the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland without full consultation with the people who are most impacted by it.
“The Irish government, the British government and, perhaps most importantly, political leaders in Northern Ireland.
“That’s what happened on Friday, which should not have happened. And I think lessons have been learned as a result of that, and it certainly won’t happen again.”
- Joseph Gamp
EU COULD HAVE DISRUPTED VACCINE SUPPLY, NI HEALTH MINISTER WARNS
The EU could have endangered vaccine supplies to Northern Ireland by enforcing Irish Sea trade disruption, the health minister said.
The Oxford AstraZeneca jab is manufactured in the UK but the Pfizer BioNTech's vaccine comes from a plant in Belgium, and has in the past been routed to Belfast via Dublin.
The European Commission was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on Friday when it backtracked on an attempt to restrict the free flow of vaccine across the Irish border.
Robin Swann said: "This had potentially very real implications for ourselves because we had vaccine actually in transit, and had that article been enforced we may have seen difficulties in the supply and the arrival of vaccines here in Northern Ireland."
More than 246,000 doses have been administered.
- Joseph Gamp
PSNI PATROLLING PORTS TO REASSURE STAFF AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said force officials will meet partner agencies on Tuesday to discuss the situation.
"The safety of staff working at points of entry is of the utmost importance to us," he said. "Where we have any credible information we will share that with our partners and take appropriate action.
"We have increased patrols at Larne Port and other points of entry in order to reassure staff and the local community."
Police last month warned that discontent in loyalist communities was "growing" over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is designed to allow the country to follow the EU's customs rules and has caused delays at ports because of new declarations and checks.
- Joseph Gamp
ANIMAL-BASED FOOD CHECKS SUSPENDED AT BELFAST AND LARNE PORTS
All regulatory animal-based food checks have been suspended at Belfast and Larne ports, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has said.
It comes after council staff at Larne Port were withdrawn from inspection duties amid concerns for their safety and welfare.
A Daera spokesman said: "On the basis of information received today and pending further discussions with the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland), Daera has decided in the interests of the wellbeing of staff to temporarily suspend physical inspections of products of animal origin at Larne and Belfast.
"The situation will be kept under review and in the meantime full documentary checks will continue to be carried out as usual."
- Joseph Gamp
CONTINUED….
The DAERA's decision comes following local council staff at Larne Port being withdrawn from their duties amid concerns for their safety.
A spokesman for the DAERA said on Monday evening: "On the basis of information received today and, pending further discussions with the PSNI, DAERA has decided in the interests of the wellbeing of staff to temporarily suspend physical inspections of Products of Animal Origin at Larne and Belfast.
"The situation will be kept under review and in the meantime full documentary checks will continue to be carried out as usual."
- Joseph Gamp
BREAKING: ALL FOOD CHECKS SUSPENDED AT BELFAST AND LARNE PORTS
All regulatory animal-based food checks have been suspended at Belfast and Larne ports, Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has said.
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