Ulster Unionist MP, Danny Kinahan has urged the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis to include the Ulster Unionist Party in discussions regarding the Brexit negotiations.
Mr Kinahan was speaking in the House of Commons following the Brexit Secretary’s statement on the process for invoking Article 50.
The South Antrim MP said:
“In response to an earlier question from another Member, David Davis replied that he would write to the Northern Ireland Executive.
“I urged the Minister to recognise that the Executive has collapsed, after only 8 months, the Executive Office is now empty, because of the inability of the DUP and Sinn Fein to govern together.
“Unlike their counterparts in Scotland and Wales, the Northern Ireland Executive has not submitted a position paper to the Joint Ministerial Committee, leaving Northern Ireland’s unique needs unrepresented.
“The Brexit Secretary appeared receptive to the idea of including other parties in correspondence.
“Meanwhile, my party colleague Lord Empey raised the same matter when the statement was delivered in the Lords. The Parliamentary Under Secretary for Exiting the European Union offered to meet with UUP MPs and Peers to discuss the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive prior to the triggering of Article 50.
“Lord Empey has accepted the offer and we will meet with him soon to outline the Ulster Unionist position.
“Unlike other parties, the Ulster Unionist Party will not be found wanting in promoting the interests of Northern Ireland.”
ENDS