WITH an agreement on Brexit reached just before Christmas, politicians in Stormont and Westminster convened on Wednesday to debate the 1,200-plus page agreement made between the UK and the EU.

In Stormont, the motion which was proposed by the First and Deputy First Ministers read: “That this Assembly takes note of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union.”

First Minister Arlene Foster spoke first in the Chamber, quoting Winston Churchill in her speech, saying: “It’s not the beginning of the end but rather the end of the beginning.”

In fact, Churchill quotes were used several times throughout the debate as MLAs gave their opinion on the Brexit Agreement which begins on January 1, 2021.

Mrs. Foster said: “We have been unified in our commitment to securing the best possible outcome for our communities, businesses and citizens.

“This can be best achieved through a comprehensive future relationship agreement – an agreement which minimises the impact on our society, businesses and economy and allows Northern Ireland to prosper.”

Significant changes

Mrs. Foster acknowledged that there would be significant changes for Northern Ireland, and there would be an “added complexity” to the interaction between the agreement and the Northern Ireland Protocol, and also that many challenges lie ahead for Northern Ireland. “However, ultimately, our focus must be on working together to support our businesses and communities.”

Sinn Féin Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Colm Gildernew, also spoke during the debate. In looking ahead to the vote in London, Mr. Gildernew said in some of his research on Brexit, he came across the collective noun for turkey: a ‘rafter of turkeys’.

“What we are seeing now at the present time in Westminster is a rafter of Tory turkeys voting for Christmas on Christmas time, and cheered to the rafters by the DUP on the way.

“And the unfortunate element of that is that we will all have to live with the damaging and lasting impacts which that is likely to bring, including within health,” he said.

Mr. Gildernew summed up his remarks by saying: “What we’re seeing here at the present time, is where the world’s moved on, Britain has moved back ... our society deserves us to do better for them.”

In Westminster, DUP, SDLP and Alliance MPs were all expected to vote against the agreement; however, with a Conservative majority in the House of Commons, the agreement was passed at the time of going to press, with 521 votes in favour and 73 against.