Department of Agriculture staff are returning to work at Northern Ireland ports from tomorrow, it has been confirmed.
The staff carry out post-Brexit checks on products of animal origin and had been withdrawn from Belfast and Larne ports on February 1 over safety concerns.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council had raised concerns of "menacing behaviour" being aimed at workers.
Threatening graffiti expressing opposition to a so-called Irish Sea border had appeared in the Larne area.
Former Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots ordered the suspension of checks in the same evening as he stepped down from the role to receive medical treatment.
His successor Gordon Lyons maintained the position.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) since said there was no evidence of "credible threats".
Today, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said checks will resume on a phased basis from tomorrow.
A spokesperson said the decision was arrived at after receiving the full threat assessment from the PSNI, conducting their own internal risk assessment and liaising with staff and unions to put mitigations in place.
"The department's permanent secretary and chief veterinary officer have confirmed that physical checks on products of animal origin at all Northern Ireland's points of entry are planned to recommence on a phased basis, as of tomorrow, Wednesday 10 February 2021," the spokesperson said.
Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan welcomed the move but said "serious questions" remain for the Agriculture Minister.
"The safe return of workers is a priority and their safety must be paramount," he said.
"While it is welcome that workers will be back in post, there are still serious questions to be answered by the Minister for Agriculture around how and why the staff were withdrawn in the first place and who made the decision."
Read more:
- Agriculture minister 'used staff as pawns in DUP's campaign against Northern Ireland Protocol'
- Edwin Poots 'ordered port staff withdrawal after questioning police grasp of risks'
