DUP Launch 'After We Leave' Consultation On Post-Brexit Matters

The DUP has released two public consultation documents relating to Northern Ireland's fishing policy and future regional funds.

Upper Bann MLA Jonathan Buckley offered comment on the documents, which the party believes demonstrate the prosperous new opportunities that will be available once the UK leaves the European Union on Friday 29 March 2019, and also called for the Northern Ireland Assembly to resume functioning government.

Mr Buckley said: "The success of Brexit will be shaped by what we do after taking back control of our laws, our money and our borders. Today the DUP releases for public consultation two policy papers, fishing policy and future regional funds, detailing how we can do that.

"The harm caused to UK fisheries as a result of our membership of the European Union and the imbalances and mismanagement of the Common Fisheries Policy has been clear to see.  The Fisheries paper advocates a new beginning for coastal communities and the fishing industry to right this wrong. It is time to abandon decline management and instead enable them to fulfil their potential and to get us all eating more of their healthy produce.

"Much of the post-referendum analysis highlighted the regional economic imbalances within the United Kingdom. It is right we do something to tackle those through our freedom of how we apply and what we spend on regional development. Regional policy of the EU system was not best suited for the UK as it had to design a system for 28 economically diverse countries and tried to focus on too many issues.

"UK regional policy should be simplified and the level of funding increased with every region receiving their present baseline and creating a top-up fund distributed across the regions on a competitive basis. The delivery of a successful new regional policy and funding will be crucial to the development and full implementation of an Industrial strategy for Northern Ireland.

"For the longer term we ask people to consider a Royal Commission on the 4th Industrial revolution to examine the radical changes that are coming and the implications for our education and skills systems.

"In all of these proposals it is clear that a working Assembly would be best to take forward and implement these important changes."



(JG/CM)