DUP Meet With NI Business Community

DUP Leader Arlene Foster MLA has met with 30 representatives of the Northern Ireland business community in Stormont, alongside MEP Diane Dodds and Westminster Trade spokesperson Emma Little-Pengelly MP.

The meeting focused on two areas:

• the Migration Advisory Committee report and

• the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement.

Commenting after the meeting Mrs Foster said: "This was a useful meeting where we were able to outline why the Withdrawal Agreement would be bad for the long-term Northern Ireland economy.

"A particular focus was placed on how the Withdrawal Agreement would set the EU in control of many of our rules and regulations yet Northern Ireland businesses would have no democratic input.

"We have agreed to have further sectoral follow-up meetings where we can discuss the impact of the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement.

"It is clear there is no enthusiasm for this Withdrawal Agreement in the House of Commons. Businesses want certainty therefore should not waste the next few weeks in advance of the Meaningful Vote, especially when many parliamentarians have already made up their minds to reject the deal.

"We should use this time to work on getting a better deal which works for the UK and Northern Ireland."