The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, has said that the first parts of the Windsor Framework will be implemented in October, as originally planned.
He ruled out making any changes or reopening negotiations with the European Union as he continues to persuade the DUP to return to power-sharing at Stormont and end the current stalemate.
The DUP collapsed Stormont last year in protest to post-Brexit trading arrangements created by the Northern Ireland Protocol.
The Windsor Framework was introduced earlier this year when it was agreed between the UK government and the European Union. Its aim is to reduce the red tape on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Chris Heaton-Harris said: “I think when it is implemented people will see that it works and it does what we said it is going to do. Sometimes people do need to see things working”
In an interview with the PA news agency, Mr Heaton-Harris said that while the government is continuing to work with the DUP to allay their concerns, the first phase of the framework would be implemented as planned this autumn.
He said: “I was very pleased to make sure that we got the Windsor Framework over the line, it got a massive vote in Parliament, it has been well endorsed.
“It has changed a whole host of things for the positive and it will be implemented.
“The first phase starts to be implemented at the beginning of October.
“I think when it is implemented people will see that it works and it does what we said it is going to do.
“Sometimes people do need to see things working.”
The Windsor Framework was unveiled in February, but it has not yet persuaded the Democratic Unionist Party to return to Stormont.
Mr Heaton-Harris said he was “neither surprised nor disappointed” that the powersharing institutions had not been restored more quickly.
He said: “I kind of guessed it would take a reasonable period of time because there is a lack of trust, or had been a lack of trust that had built up over a number of years between unionism and the British government and that is quite a barrier to break down.”
