A process allowing Stormont Assembly to vote on whether to continue post-Brexit trading arrangements has been triggered by the Northern Ireland Secretary.
Hilary Benn sent a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly on Thursday asking First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly to table a motion by the end of November.
The vote must be held on Articles 5 to 10 of the Windsor Framework, which underpins the EU trade laws in force in Northern Ireland, before they expire.
These have proved contentious, with unionists arguing that they threaten Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.
The democratic consent process was a key part of the Brexit deal, giving elected representatives in Northern Ireland a say on the trade arrangements struck after years of EU-UK negotiations.
Unlike other votes on contentious issues at Stormont, it does not require cross community support to pass.
If it is voted through on a straight majority, the protocols are extended for four years and the Government is obliged to hold a review of how the arrangements are working.
If it wins the support of a majority of unionists and a majority of nationalists, then it is extended for eight years.
Assembly speaker Edwin Poots said that if the Executive leadership do table the motion, they must also provide explanatory material.
No one else can table a democratic consent motion in November, but if Ms O’Neill and Ms Little-Pengelly do not table such a motion, any MLA can do so between December 1 to 6 inclusive.
“Should this happen, the Secretary of State must take reasonable steps to provide members with such explanatory materials as it is reasonable to provide in order to assist them when deciding the question,” Mr Poots said.
“The Business Committee will schedule any motion for a consent resolution.
“If a motion for consent has been tabled by either the First Minister and deputy First Minister, or a member, but has not been decided before Tuesday December 17 2024, the Assembly must sit on Tuesday December 17 2024 to decide the motion.
“However, I would prefer that any such motion is debated at a scheduled sitting before this date.”