Following the publication of a document by the European Research Group on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, Ulster Unionist Party Leader, Robin Swann MLA, said:
"While I welcome the fact that the ERG is starting to engage on this issue, I worry that the language in its report on initial full alignment between Northern Ireland (as opposed to the whole of the United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland leaves the door open to a regulatory border down the Irish Sea. While this might not be intentional, I fear any hint that backbench Brexiteers might allow such a situation to arise will be music to Michel Barnier's ears.
"We have been consistently wary of language around a so-called backstop since the December agreement, which itself was hastily put together over a weekend of confusion between the Government and the DUP.
"We are fast approaching crunch time in these negotiations, so it is more important than ever that all parties who have committed to maintaining the constitutional integrity of our country continue to do so."