Belfast City Council is to consider taking a legal challenge against DUP Minister Edwin Poots over his orders to officials to halt Irish Sea border checks.
A motion has been proposed by Sinn Fein Councillor Ciaran Beattie, signed by the other 14 Sinn Fein elected members, and will be discussed at a special meeting of Belfast City Council next Monday (February 7).
Minister Poots at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said he had the legal right to tell his staff to stop checks in the absence of executive approval for them.
However on Friday his directions were suspended by the High Court, which ruled inspections on goods entering Northern Ireland from Great Britain must continue pending the outcome of legal challenges.
As well as staff appointed from Stormont, border posts employ local authority environmental health staff, from Belfast City Council at the Belfast port, and from Mid and East Antrim Council in Larne. So far checks have continued as normal.
A statement from Belfast Council reads: “Following engagement with our Elected Members, council’s operations are continuing at Belfast Port. We continue to liaise with our colleagues in DAERA and the Food Standards Agency in response to the developing situation.
“A special meeting of the council is due to take place on Monday February 7 at 4pm to discuss a motion raised in relation to this issue.”
The Sinn Fein motion for the Belfast authority states: “‘This council wishes to place on record it’s concern with the actions of Minister Poots relating to the withdrawal of checks required for the implementation of the Protocol and his failure to comply with an international treaty and legal obligations negotiated by the British Government with the EU.
“The council further notes with concern that this is likely to impact its ability to meet the legal obligations for which it is responsible, relating to inspections at the port.
“This council authorises the city solicitor to commence legal proceedings to compel the minister and the British Government to comply with Protocol requirements, subject to any current derogations in the grace period.”
