Northern Ireland

Ian Paisley: We are 'moments away' from the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive

Ian Paisley has claimed that the Northern Ireland Executive is "moments away" from collapse.. Picture by PA Wire
Ian Paisley has claimed that the Northern Ireland Executive is "moments away" from collapse.. Picture by PA Wire Ian Paisley has claimed that the Northern Ireland Executive is "moments away" from collapse.. Picture by PA Wire

Ian Paisley believes that the Northern Ireland Executive is "moments away" from collapse.

The DUP MP was speaking in the House of the Commons following reports that First Minister Paul Givan is expected to announce his resignation by the end of the week, potentially later today.

The resignation is part of the DUP's protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol. Agriculture Minister Edwin Poots last night ordered a halt to Brexit agri-food checks at Northern Ireland ports required under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Mr Paisley said: “Events in Northern Ireland are teetering on the brink – we’re not months, weeks or days, but moments away from the collapse of the Northern Ireland Executive and that is very sad but entirely predictable, and has been predicted from these benches for the past 13 months.”

He asked Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg for assurances that “good governances and good practices” will be put in place to ensure that Northern Ireland “does not fall behind in any of its governmental matters, more time will be left aside in this House to debate issues that are pertinent to Northern Ireland, and that the daily affairs of Northern Ireland will not be set to the side in any way and the British Government will take full and proper charge of affairs when and where they have to”.

Mr Rees-Mogg replied “we have to wait upon events” but assured Mr Paisley that the British Government recognises its “responsibility for the whole of the United Kingdom”.

Mr Paisley claimed last year that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave him a guarantee ahead of the 2019 general election that he intended "tearing up" the protocol after he secured victory at the polls.

This morning, the British Environment Secretary George Eustice was holding crisis talks with Stormont counterpart Edwin Poots over the Northern Ireland Protocol checks.

Downing Street said checks are continuing to be carried out despite Mr Poots telling officials in his Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) to stop them

Downing Street was not aware the DUP planned to suspend checks, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

Asked if Mr Johnson would like to see the checks continue, the spokesman said: “Yes, we would like this situation to be resolved, recognising it is a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.”

Pressed on whether the checks could be carried out at ports in Great Britain rather than on arrival in Northern Ireland, the spokesman said: “We are looking into the legal position.”

The spokesman added: “We certainly weren’t aware that this was the approach the DUP were going to take.

“I’m not sure what preparatory work has gone on, on the basis this could happen.”

The Government’s focus was on resolving the issues around the protocol, the spokesman said.

The PA news agency understands senior DUP figures are meeting later on Thursday to confirm the timing of Mr Givan’s resignation statement.

Downing Street would not be drawn on speculation around First Minister Paul Givan’s future.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We have certainly seen those reports, they do remain speculation at the moment.

“The Government’s priority is for a resilient Northern Ireland Executive and we want to continue to build on the Good Friday Agreement’s promise of a stable, co-operative powersharing executive.

“I don’t want to get into speculating on what may happen while we don’t have any confirmation of those reports.”

The resignation of the First Minister would automatically remove Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill from office.

In those circumstances, other ministers in the administration could still remain in place. However, the Executive could not take any significant decisions.

That would prevent the coalition from agreeing a three-year budget – a spending plan that is currently out for public consultation.

A planned official state apology by Mr Givan and Ms O’Neill to victims of historic institutional abuse, scheduled for March, could also not happen.