"Northern Ireland needs certainty and stability going forward and this agreement provides the basis for that." That's according to Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan, Brendan Smith when about his thoughts on the Northern Ireland Protocol deal reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom.
Speaking to Northern Sound, Deputy Smith said he has "no doubt" that the 'Windsor Framework stems from a "real and sustained effort" to address the concerns raised in Northern Ireland about the Protocol and its operation.
With this April marking the twenty fifth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Deputy Smith believes it is "vital" that we see its institutions restored and working for the people of the North. He added that the new agreement is "very encouraging" for the future in terms of moving ahead and putting the recent difficulties in the past behind us.
Deputy Smith continued; "I believe that the new framework does its utmost to address the concerns and find a balanced solution that everyone can work with. The new agreement means that the same food will be available on shelves in Northern Ireland as in Britain. The terms and conditions that apply to pharmaceutical products in Britain will now also apply in Northern Ireland. Medicines will also be available to people in Northern Ireland at the same time and under the same conditions as the rest of the UK.
"The Windsor framework also means that we have a new basis for renewing British-Irish relations. The UK Prime Minister has clearly negotiated in good faith here. That is very encouraging for the future as we seek to move ahead and put the recent difficulties behind us."
