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<p>The agreement reached with the EU gives us full control over our own laws, courts,
borders and seas. It will help unlock investment and protect jobs right across the
UK, giving us fantastic opportunities as an independent trading nation, striking trade
deals with other partners around the world.</p><p> </p><p>The Ireland/Northern Ireland
Protocol is a unique, and delicately balanced, solution to a unique and sensitive
set of problems. It aims to uphold the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in all its aspects;
safeguard Northern Ireland’s integral place in the United Kingdom, its customs territory
and internal market, while preventing a hard border on the island of Ireland.</p><p>
</p><p>It is clear over the months that the Protocol has been in force that there
have been issues having a direct, and often disproportionate, impact. It is critical
that these issues can be addressed in order to protect the political, social and economic
fabric of life in Northern Ireland and to restore confidence on the ground. It is
our priority to move discussions with the EU forward and to ensure the Protocol is
given effect in the pragmatic and proportionate way intended.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary
of State for Northern Ireland and I have met, and will continue to meet, with business
and community representatives to listen to their experiences, to understand what the
data tells us about impacts under the Protocol and to reaffirm the Government’s commitment
to addressing issues with the Protocol. We will continue to work closely with all
sectors of opinion in Northern Ireland as talks with the EU Commission continue.</p>
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