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Business leaders express dismay at collapse of potential border deal

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts has said the UK as a whole remaining in the customs union and single market "is where the solution lies" for business
Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts has said the UK as a whole remaining in the customs union and single market "is where the solution lies" for business Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts has said the UK as a whole remaining in the customs union and single market "is where the solution lies" for business

BUSINESS leaders have expressed dismay at the collapse of a potential border deal.

Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI which represents independent retailers, described the breakdown on Monday as "disappointing" but added that there are still "grounds for optimism".

It comes after Manufacturing NI, which represents several major firms including Bombardier, tweeted about the merits of reaching agreement.

It said: "Being a bridge between the UK and the EU need not undermine sincerely held views on identity and would not require any additional barriers to trade. Instead, it would present an extraordinary opportunity to create more wealth and work."

Mr Roberts said the best solution for business would be the UK as a whole remaining in the customs union and single market.

"We may be in a position where there is a two-year transition period and longer term a broad customs union.

"The UK as a whole staying in the customs union and single market, that is where the solution lies; that way we can avoid a border in the Irish Sea and a border on the island of Ireland. That ticks a number of boxes," he said.

Mr Roberts voiced frustration that the absence of a functioning Executive at Stormont has added to "uncertainty after uncertainty" for businesses.

"That is also a factor in why Monday didn't go so well. It is very hard for a considered view of Northern Ireland to be put forward when there is no government in place.

"As we approach Brexit it is about bridges not borders and if we reframe the debate we can see progress being made. I am confident there will be a deal."

The Ulster Farmers Union said there was not enough information to draw "firm conclusions".

Deputy president Ivor Ferguson said: "As the Brexit negotiations continue our goal will be to ensure nothing happens to undermine access to our market in the rest of the UK, which is and will remain our biggest.

"At the same time, we have stressed from the outset the importance of finding a solution that allows long-standing trade relationships between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to continue with minimal disruption."

The Confederation of British Industry in Northern Ireland said it is waiting to see how talks progress later this week before commenting.