O’Neill slams British Government over stop and search ‘duplicity’ | Latest Newry News, Newry Sport and Newry Business for Newry City

O’Neill slams British Government over stop and search ‘duplicity’

Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill has accused the British Government of duplicity over controversial new legislation which she said is “clearly preparing for a hard border in Ireland”.

According to O’Neill, the legislation currently going through Westminster would see the creation of a one-mile border zone where members of the public can be stopped, searched and detained.

 

 

 “The use of stop and search powers is already a cause of massive concern in nationalist areas and if powers as wide-ranging as these were introduced, it would be disastrous,” Michelle O’Neill commented.

 “It runs counter to human rights provisions. It runs counter to the Good Friday Agreement and the principles of the European Common Travel Area.

“I will be taking this up directly with both governments because it is clear that, through this legislation, London is preparing for the imposition of a hard border in Ireland.

 

 

 “That is in direct contravention to the assurances they gave to the European Union last December. It is sheer duplicity and the Irish Government and the EU 27 cannot allow them to renege on those guarantees.

“We warned at the time that British Government promises could not be trusted and legally-binding guarantees were required. Clearly, that is the case given their duplicity in this issue.

She added, “The Brexit negotiations are reaching a crucial stage and Dublin and Brussels must ensure that there will be no hardening of the border in Ireland.”

 

 

Short URL: https://newrytimes.com/?p=64826

Posted by on Aug 15 2018. Filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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