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  • Ministers welcome EU trade deal

    Date published: 24 December 2020

    First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill have welcomed today’s announcement of a post Brexit trade deal.

    First Minister Arlene Foster said: “The Executive has been united in supporting the need for a trading deal and I welcome the successful conclusion of these negotiations.

    “This is the start of a new era in the relationship between the UK and the EU and in Northern Ireland we will want to maximise the opportunities the new arrangements provide for our local economy.”

    Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “While we have distinctly different political positions on leaving the EU, we are all agreed that it’s in no-one interests to leave without a deal, therefore this announcement is good news which will be welcomed across the whole island.

    “As an Executive we will now need to consider the detail of the agreement because there will be many questions on what the agreement means for businesses and citizens and it is important they get that clarity.”

    Notes to editors:

    1. A 10 step checklist for businesses is available on the NI Business Info website: www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/eu-exit-readiness-checklist-10-steps-take
    2. Further information on the EU Exit support available for businesses is available from InterTradeIreland at https://intertradeireland.com/brexit and Invest NI www.investni.com/prepare-for-eu-exit
    3. For media queries contact The Executive Office press office via email: press.office@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk
    4. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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