Latest news with #HilaryBenn
ITV News
3 days ago
- Business
- ITV News
Many businesses face challenges sending goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, says report
The Windsor Framework is causing widespread disruption to trade, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). A report on the impact of the framework has found many companies in Great Britain have stopped trading with Northern Ireland. Companies were also critical of the assistance which is available from the government to help navigate the difficulties. A FSB survey found 58% of those who responded said they were facing moderate to significant challenges trading from Great Britain to NI. As a result of that, more than a third (34%) of the companies said have already ceased trading rather than deal with the demands. Roger Pollen from the FSB said: "I think we've come a long way from the initial break out of the EU. We had the Northern Ireland Protocol and then we had the Windsor Framework. "And all of these have been lots of sticking plasters to try and stop the bleeding, but actually underneath there's still a wound that needs to be addressed. "The system is not yet functioning properly to facilitate free trade and easy trade. We need to address that. "There are recommendations in the report, things that could be done to make this work a lot better. "And if we get that right, then the much vaunted dual market access could actually operate, but at the moment the market access within the UK alone is clearly compromised; that's not good enough." On Wednesday, the Secretary of State responded to the figures detailed in the report, saying he wanted feedback from businesses. Hilary Benn said: "We should do all that we can to make sure that the information that we provide to businesses helps them to understand what the rules are to navigate their way through them and to make them operate effectively for the business itself. "The question I would ask as follow up is - if you think that aspects of the service are not very good, well, in what way? What is your feedback? How do you think it could be improved? "Because we have to take a practical approach. What is it about what you can see at the moment that doesn't work for you? What are your suggestions for how it could be improved? "And that is something that we will talk to businesses about."
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Disconnect' between Government and businesses over post-Brexit trade
There is a disconnect between the Government and businesses operating under the terms of the Windsor Framework, a House of Lords committee has heard. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said 'goods are flowing' and they listen to stakeholders, adding they have an obligation to make the framework work. 'The goods are flowing from GB to Northern Ireland, from Northern Ireland to GB, which is of course what we want, and the economy in Northern Ireland is doing OK,' he added. However, former UUP leader Lord Empey said they have received different reports on operating under the post-Brexit trading deal. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, also appeared at the House of Lords Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee which has been holding evidence sessions examining the operation of the Windsor Framework. He told peers that he has seen in person the arrangements at Belfast Port, and listened to Northern Ireland businesses, describing the region's voice on the issue as being 'heard loud and clear'. The Windsor Framework was agreed between the UK and the EU in 2023, amending the Northern Ireland Protocol. It governs post-Brexit trading arrangements in the region. The DUP later reached the Safeguarding The Union deal with the previous UK government to further reduce some checks and paperwork on goods moving from the rest of the UK into Northern Ireland, leading to the restoration of the powersharing Executive at Stormont last year. However, many unionists remain opposed to the framework, stating it creates a new regulatory border within the United Kingdom and because Northern Ireland continues to follow some EU laws relating to goods. Mr Benn conceded there are 'quite a lot' of bodies relating to the framework, referencing the East-West Council, Intertrade UK and the independent monitoring panel which is set to issue its first six monthly report in the autumn. 'They are all bodies set up to deal with different aspects… there are quite a lot of bodies, they are intended to give reassurance to people that someone independent is looking at how the whole thing is working, then people can read the reports and make a judgment,' he said. Lord Empey contended there 'is a disconnect' with what the ministers were saying, and what the committee has heard from others. 'We received a report yesterday from the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) of widespread trade friction, low strategic confidence, dual market access under-utilised, government support gaps, operational disruption and costs,' he said. 'We understand you have been confronted with a situation you didn't make but our job in doing a report is to try and make things better, even though the problem might be fundamentally insoluble in principle in the long term. 'I would just urge you to recognise the fact that however hard you're trying, out there is a gap.' Mr Thomas-Symonds responded by saying he was 'not suggesting a counsel of perfection to this committee'. 'I'm coming out to set out the measures the Government is taking to try to raise awareness, try to ensure that businesses of all sizes are aware of where they can go for information and assistance,' he said. 'But where there are issues, it is certainly not a brick wall being built or an inability to listen. Where there are issues that are being raised and there are problems, my instinct is always to try and find a practical solution to address them.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Series of public inquiries on Troubles incidents ‘not the way forward'
The legacy of Northern Ireland's past is not going to be dealt with by a series of public inquiries, Secretary of State Hilary Benn has said. He came under questioning over the Government's handling of legacy cases during a meeting of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Monday. Mr Benn insisted that a reformed Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) will be able to deal with the cases. The body led by Sir Declan Morgan, a former lord chief justice for Northern Ireland, was set up by the former government's Legacy Act after scores of legacy inquests and other court cases relating to the Troubles were halted. The Kingsmill massacre and the Guildford pub bombings are among cases it is currently looking at. Mr Benn told MPs they are working to change disclosure arrangements and to make it compliant with Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights. 'In the end, we're not going to deal with legacy with a whole series of public inquiries,' he said. 'We're doing all this work to try and create a body which is capable of delivering justice for all, information for all, answers for all. 'That is what I am trying to do at the moment because of the incompatibilities identified.' He was asked about his decision not to call a public inquiry into the circumstances around the murder of GAA official Sean Brown in 1997. In May the UK Government confirmed it will seek a Supreme Court appeal over a court ruling that ordered it to hold a public inquiry into Mr Brown's murder. The 61-year-old then-chairman of Wolfe Tones GAA Club in the Co Londonderry town of Bellaghy was ambushed, kidnapped and murdered by loyalist paramilitaries as he locked the gates of the club in May 1997. No-one has ever been convicted of his killing. Preliminary inquest proceedings last year heard that in excess of 25 people had been linked by intelligence to the murder, including several state agents. It was also alleged in court that surveillance of a suspect in the murder was temporarily stopped on the evening of the killing, only to resume again the following morning. Asked about Mr Brown's case, Mr Benn told MPs: 'It's an awful, awful case. 'The murder of Sean Brown was shocking, deeply violent, and this has caused immense suffering to the family, to his widow Bridie and to the wider community, including the GAA family, because of the role that he undertook. 'But I came to the conclusion that the commission reformed would be capable of looking into it, and there's an issue of principle here in respect to the court ruling. 'Up until this moment, the courts accepted that it is for governments to decide whether public inquiries are ordered, not for the courts. 'What the courts have tended to say is, this is the test that has to be met, the way in which the government chooses to meet that test is a matter for governments to decide. 'There is a margin of appreciation that is made available. 'In this particular case, the court has decided to order a public inquiry. 'We're seeking leave to appeal to the Supreme Court because of that fundamental principle, which is, courts do not order public inquiries, governments do, and that is very important because of the nature of the mandatory order I am not able to do anything else other than order a public inquiry, which I made it clear that the Government is not going to do, because I believe there's another means of dealing with this case.' Mr Benn said there are five other cases that are in the same position. 'People say the Sean Brown case is unique. All murders are unique and uniquely painful for the family, but it is not a unique case,' he said. 'This is not a unique case, and I would also say we are not going to deal with legacy by having a whole series of public inquiries. 'That is not a way forward. That is why we have to make the reform of the commission to win public confidence. 'To make it ECHR compliant is so important because then you have a mechanism that you can use to deal with all of them and all of us, the committee, the whole team, everybody needs to be concerned about justice for everyone.' He added: 'It is open to the Brown family to go to the commission today, the commission will start work on investigating.'
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘Onus back on Executive' over rebuilding of Casement Park, Benn says
The onus is on the Northern Ireland Executive over the rebuilding of Casement Park, Secretary of State Hilary Benn has said. Mr Benn set out that either more funding is found for the long-delayed GAA stadium or the current plans are scaled back. He was speaking to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Monday after the UK Government pledged £50 million earlier this month for the project. There are also pledges of £62.5 million from Stormont, £43 million from the Irish Government and £15 million from the GAA. However, the current plan for a 34,000-capacity stadium is still short of cash with a reported estimate of £260 million, while just over £170 million is currently available. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011 as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Mr Benn put to MPs that there are two ways to proceed. 'One is to find more resources from elsewhere and I think the onus is back now on the (Stormont) Executive whose project this is, dating from 2011,' he said. 'Either you find more money to get it towards the current assessed cost or the nature of the design is scaled back to fit the funds that are available. 'Those are broadly the two choices, or some meeting point in between, but I do think that it gives quite an impetus to the project. 'The Executive has wanted to do this since 2011, there are particular reasons to do with planning which have made it difficult, and that's been significantly responsible for delay.' Mr Benn also cautioned that the current planning permission is due to expire next summer and said to have to reapply for planning permission would cause further delay. He added: 'Windsor Park has been done, Ravenhill has been done, but Casement Park has not. 'I want the people of Northern Ireland to be able to enjoy those three great sporting traditions in three stadia. That's why the Government's made the contribution.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Onus back on Executive' over rebuilding of Casement Park, Benn says
The onus is on the Northern Ireland Executive over the rebuilding of Casement Park, Secretary of State Hilary Benn has said. Mr Benn set out that either more funding is found for the long-delayed GAA stadium or the current plans are scaled back. He was speaking to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Monday after the UK Government pledged £50 million earlier this month for the project. There are also pledges of £62.5 million from Stormont, £43 million from the Irish Government and £15 million from the GAA. However, the current plan for a 34,000-capacity stadium is still short of cash with a reported estimate of £260 million, while just over £170 million is currently available. Stormont ministers committed £62.5 million to Casement in 2011 as part of a strategy to revamp it along with football's Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill. While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed for several years because of legal challenges by local residents. The estimated cost spiralled in the interim. Mr Benn put to MPs that there are two ways to proceed. 'One is to find more resources from elsewhere and I think the onus is back now on the (Stormont) Executive whose project this is, dating from 2011,' he said. 'Either you find more money to get it towards the current assessed cost or the nature of the design is scaled back to fit the funds that are available. 'Those are broadly the two choices, or some meeting point in between, but I do think that it gives quite an impetus to the project. 'The Executive has wanted to do this since 2011, there are particular reasons to do with planning which have made it difficult, and that's been significantly responsible for delay.' Mr Benn also cautioned that the current planning permission is due to expire next summer and said to have to reapply for planning permission would cause further delay. He added: 'Windsor Park has been done, Ravenhill has been done, but Casement Park has not. 'I want the people of Northern Ireland to be able to enjoy those three great sporting traditions in three stadia. That's why the Government's made the contribution.'
