British Prime Minister Theresa May with Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness
THE British Prime Minister has said that the North of Ireland will have the opportunity for regular formal talks on the Brexit process.
Theresa May has taken the move after it was announced that Secretaries of State from the devolved regions would not be involved in the permanent membership of the European Exit and Trade Committees and would only be called on when other members deemed it necessary.
That prompted deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness to say that he wouldn’t trust the British government to represent NI at those talks.
Mrs May is now offering a “direct line” to Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis, as part of a forum which will involve representatives from Stormont, Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff Bay.
That will see the Joint Ministerial Council meet for the first time since 2014 on Monday.
“I am determined that as we make a success of our exit from the European Union, we in turn further strengthen our own enduring union,” said Mrs May.
“The great union between us has been the cornerstone of our prosperity in the past – and it is absolutely vital to our success in the future.
“The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work.
“The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK.”
Under the new arrangements, if all parties agree to it, a sub-division of the Joint Ministerial Council would be chaired by Mr Davis, with the first meeting then scheduled for before the end of November and another before the end of December.
The official Brexit process is due to be started by the end of March next year.
It will then take two years to implement.
