Northern Ireland

Businessman Willie McCarter calls for backstop to be parked for two years

Businessman, William McCarter believes backstop should be "parked" for two years to finalise a long term deal.
Businessman, William McCarter believes backstop should be "parked" for two years to finalise a long term deal. Businessman, William McCarter believes backstop should be "parked" for two years to finalise a long term deal.

Leading Irish businessman, Willie McCarter has called for the Backstop to be “parked” for two years so that the UK and EU can complete a long term agreement Brexit Agreement.

Mr McCarter, a former head of the Irish International Fund, said the UK should revoke Article 50 to facilitate negotiations for a long term agreement.

Based in County Donegal, Mr McCarter is a previous managing director of the Fruit of the Loom leisure wear company, at one time the largest employer in north west Ireland.

With the Brexit debate changing almost on an hourly basis, Mr McCarter said the threat of a no-del exit from the EU has become “more and more real.”

He said: “The UK government as is their legal right under EU law should immediately revoke Article 50 and re-join the EU for a period of two years. During these two years, by agreement with the EU both the EU and UK should immediately proceed to negotiate the long term agreement.

“Both the EU and UK have stated in good faith that they believe the long term agreement will solve the Irish border problem.”

This would necessitate the “parking” of the Border Backstop for the two-year duration of the negotiations.

“At the end of the two years, assuming that a mutually satisfactory long term agreement has been reached which solves the border problem, the UK would trigger Article 50 again and leave the EU in an orderly manner,” he said.