Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in Fermanagh: ‘No need for a hard Border’

Sir Jeffrey was speaking to The Impartial Reporter last Friday, January 7, during his visit to Fermanagh South Tyrone, when he opened DUP MLA Deborah Erskine’s office, and later visited the Lisnaskea Health Centre, with the DUP chief asked about a range of issues.

With the Northern Ireland Protocol still a particularly pressing issue for his party and for many people across the country, as well as having a particular importance for Border towns and communities, Sir Jeffrey was asked what assurances he can give to people living in Fermanagh South Tyrone that any Protocol changes will not impact on their lives.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, MP, speaking to The Impartial Reporter in Enniskillen.

In response, he said: "A lot of day-to-day life takes place on a cross-Border basis, whether that's doing business, people just visiting family members – we have no desire whatsoever to interfere with the way that people do business or live their lives in Border communities.

“That's why consistently we said there's no need for 'a hard border', either on the island of Ireland, or the Irish Sea; [and] that when it comes to the movement of goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, those goods are staying within the UK, and therefore we don't believe the [EU's goods] checks are justified or necessary.

“We certainly don't want to see customs posts created on the Border. The UK government has no intention of doing that – the only people who would do that would be in the European Union,” he claimed.

Sir Jeffrey continued: “I don't think that people need to be concerned about the prospect of a hard Border.

"We believe there are alternative arrangements to the Protocol that respect Northern Ireland's place within the UK internal market, but at the same time allow us to continue trading across the Border without the need for customs checks.”

Deborah Erskine, MLA with Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, MP, speaking to the media in Enniskillen.

Away from the broader matter of the NI Protocol issue, with an Assembly election scheduled for May, Sir Jeffery is confident for the future of the DUP in Fermanagh.

He said: “We will work hard in the forthcoming election to get Deborah [Erskine] returned to Stormont, but I'm confident that Deborah will be able to command the support here and retain her seat.

“Deborah really has hit the ground running as a new MLA. It was a huge advantage that Deborah had worked previously with [former First Minister and DUP leader] Arlene [Foster] in the constituency office.

"Deborah has a lot of knowledge of the constituency, and she's very much a valued member of our team. She is sitting on the Health Committee, and already is making an impact, and has shown she is someone who is articulate, confident, understands and has a good knowledge of the issues she's dealing with.”

He continued: "I think Deborah will be an excellent representative for Fermanagh South Tyrone. I would also pay tribute to Arlene [Foster], who was so highly-respected, and is so highly-respected here in Fermanagh.

“Arlene will be a hard act to follow for Deborah, but I think both Arlene and I recognise that Deborah is someone who will make an excellent MLA in the years to come.”

Pictured at the opening of the new DUP office in Enniskillen are front from left, Sir Jeffery Donaldson, MP and Deborah Erskine, MLA. Back from left, Paul Stevenson, Erne North; Paul Robinson, Erne East; Bert Johnston, Former Councillor and Keith

When asked if Mrs. Erskine will be the sole DUP candidate for the Fermanagh South Tyrone seat, Sir Jeffrey said: “I don't want to pre-empt the outcome of that process, but I know that Deborah has put her name forward to be a candidate for the party, and I welcome that.”

Currently, none of the ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive are from Fermanagh South Tyrone.

When asked by The Impartial Reporter if more DUP representative from the west of Northern Ireland could be made ministers in the next Assembly, Sir Jeffrey said: “I'm keen that, first of all, we want to win the election.

"The more seats we get, the more ministers we will have, and the more opportunity that will be to ensure that the various parts of Northern Ireland are represented in the NI Executive.

“There is no doubt that Fermanagh South Tyrone was extremely well served by having Arlene, not only as a minister, but as First Minister.

"Of course, we will look to see what role our MLAs from the west of Northern Ireland can play, including at ministerial level,” he added.