Speech given by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson in the immediate aftermath of the DUP executive meeting on the restoration of Stormont, 30.01.24 (taken from DUP YouTube channel)
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00:00 I want to make a statement first of all and then happy to take some questions.
00:06 In February 2022, the DUP withdrew the then First Minister as a consequence of the imposition
00:14 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, which did not have the support from the elected representatives
00:19 of unionism in Northern Ireland.
00:23 Prior to our decision, we warned that a failure to deal with the Protocol, its imposition
00:28 without consent and its disruptive impact on the delicate political balance was leading
00:35 to a non-sustainable position.
00:39 We have campaigned to seek substantial, meaningful and fundamental changes to the arrangements
00:45 first agreed by the UK Government in 2020.
00:50 Having taken a strong and principled stand, endorsed in May 2022 by a substantial mandate,
00:58 we were able to bring the UK Government and the European Commission back to the negotiating
01:04 table.
01:05 And while significant progress was made at the time of the Windsor Framework, we judged
01:11 that more work was required if we were to reach a point of securing arrangements that
01:18 unionists as well as nationalists can support.
01:22 Throughout much of this period, other parties in Northern Ireland were calling for rigorous
01:27 implementation of the Protocol.
01:31 In addition to undoing the damage of the Protocol on the Union and restoring Northern Ireland's
01:37 place within the United Kingdom and its internal market, we have worked with the UK Government
01:44 in our recent negotiations to ensure that going forward, Northern Ireland has the best
01:49 possible chance to tackle its short-term challenges and build longer-term prosperity within the
01:57 Union.
01:59 Our goal has been to secure the conditions that allow for the return of devolved government
02:05 on a sustainable basis, and where it can make a real and meaningful improvement in the lives
02:13 of all the people of this part of the United Kingdom.
02:18 The officers, Assembly Group, Parliamentary Group and the Central Executive of the Democratic
02:26 Unionist Party have now been briefed and considered all aspects of our negotiations between the
02:33 UK Government and the DUP.
02:37 I am pleased to report that the Party Executive has now endorsed the proposals that I have
02:44 put to them.
02:47 The Party has concluded that subject to the binding commitments between the Democratic
02:54 Unionist Party and the UK Government being fully and faithfully delivered as agreed,
03:01 including the tabling and passing of new legislative measures in Parliament and final agreement
03:09 on a timetable, the package of measures in totality does provide a basis for our Party
03:17 to nominate members to the Northern Ireland Executive, thus seeing the restoration of
03:23 the locally elected institutions.
03:28 We recognise that significant further advances have been achieved through these negotiations,
03:34 and the details of the new package of measures will be published by the UK Government in
03:41 due course.
03:43 This package I believe safeguards Northern Ireland's place in the Union and will restore
03:49 our place within the UK internal market.
03:53 It will remove checks for goods moving within the UK and remaining in Northern Ireland,
03:59 and will end Northern Ireland automatically following future EU laws.
04:06 There will be legislation to provide new legal and practical protections for the Acts of
04:13 Union, and which guarantees unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to the rest
04:20 of the United Kingdom.
04:23 In the coming days, in addition to the publication of the details of the new package of proposals,
04:31 the UK Government will be required to deliver on the legislative commitments they have made
04:37 to us.
04:39 I am pleased to indicate that we have also secured a basis for cross-party support at
04:45 Westminster for the measures negotiated.
04:49 Therefore, regardless of who forms the next UK Government, these agreed measures will
04:56 be taken forward beyond the forthcoming General Election.
05:03 Throughout this process, we have been clear and have made clear we will only be able to
05:08 move after the Government faithfully delivers on the implementation of its legal and other
05:16 commitments.
05:18 The package of measures will require a significant number of actions to be taken, and we look
05:25 forward with confidence to their ongoing implementation according to an agreed timeline.
05:34 Upon that basis, the Democratic Unionist Party would support the calling of a meeting of
05:40 the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect a Speaker and to facilitate the nomination of Ministers.
05:49 In advance of the UK Government delivering on its commitments, as part of the package
05:54 of measures agreed with us, and the passing of new legislation through the House of Commons,
06:01 there is important preparatory work to be carried out so that local Ministers, when
06:06 nominated, can hit the ground running.
06:15 I believe that with the faithful delivery of this package of measures, hard work and
06:21 dedication, we will be able to look back on this moment as the defining time when Northern
06:27 Ireland's place within the Union was safeguarded and our place within the United Kingdom internal
06:34 market was restored.
06:37 Over the coming period, we will work alongside others to build a thriving Northern Ireland,
06:44 firmly within the Union, for this and succeeding generations.
06:50 When our grandchildren look back on this period, they will be able to say we had a just cause,
06:58 we held the line, we restored the balance and we secured a positive future for Northern
07:05 Ireland and its integral place in the Union of the United Kingdom.