Northern Ireland's politicians react to UK-EU deal

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said any deal would be assessed through "the prism of the union", while First Minister Michelle O'Neill said the "devil will be in the detail"

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed news of a deal between the UK and EU but cautioned that the "devil will be in the detail".

Meanwhile, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said a deal that will see fewer checks on some goods coming from GB to NI will be assessed through "the prism of the union".

Speaking at Stormont, O'Neill acknowledged there had been an "improved relationship" between London and Brussels.

"Anything that protects the all-island economy, anything that maximises our access to both markets in terms of trade, anything that removes barriers for trade, then that's something that we would obviously very much welcome," she said.

But asked if her power-sharing partner the DUP would welcome the deal, she replied: "I think you should put that to the DUP."

East Belfast MP Robinson said "in superficial terms" some progress has been made, but that it was "too early" to give a definitive outcome about what it would mean for Northern Ireland.

He added that his party would also want to see full detail of the plan, but added that Labour understood that the current barriers to trade were "intolerable".

But he said he had concerns about part of the deal that relates to fishing rights and whether that would negatively affect local fishing firms.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the deal would ensure "no more costly paperwork" for businesses.

He told BBC News NI that the agreement marked a "pragmatic decision" taken by the Labour government.

He dismissed criticism that the changes were "superficial" and insisted it was the right thing to do in the "interest of companies, jobs and costs".

TUV leader Jim Allister said the deal "was about giving back control in GB to Brussels, and paying for the privilege"

TUV leader Jim Allister said the deal "copper-fastens NI as EU territory".

"As for seeking to mitigate some of the damage of surrendering sovereignty over NI in the Protocol by doing the same for GB, in terms of being a supplicant rule-taker from Brussels, this too is edging the whole UK back into the EU's orbit of control.

"The promise of Brexit was 'taking back control'; today was about giving back control in GB to Brussels, and paying for the privilege," Allister said.

'A good deal'

Muir described the the agreement as a "good deal for consumers"

Northern Ireland's Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir described the agreement as a "good deal" which brings "practical solutions".

"Whilst it's not all of what I would have wanted, most particularly in terms of joining a customs union, this is a good deal," he said.

"It's a good deal for consumers, for businesses, for our farmers and agri-food industry."

Speaking at Stormont, Muir said he was "intensively engaging" with the UK government and Brussels in recent months "to secure a deal of this nature".

The minister said that "Brexit's damaged the UK economy" but this deal was "about practical solutions".

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said she was glad to see a number of things her party for in the deal

SDLP leader Claire Hanna said the deal was "substantial", "meaningful" and "a better direction".

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme, Hanna said she was "glad to see a number of things that the SDLP has been campaigning and pressing for".

"Primarily reducing friction for Northern Irish businesses but also things like emissions and wider horizons including youth mobility, things like mobility for artists and tours."

Alliance leader Naomi Long said the "key to resolving the frictions imposed by Brexit has been closer alignment between the UK and EU"

The Alliance Party leader Naomi Long said the UK-EU deal "is a first, positive step in toward a closer, better relationship, with associated benefits for Northern Ireland".

"The deal that has been reached on agri-food will benefit not only Northern Ireland, but also the UK and EU more widely.

"It is vital this package is implemented in good faith and Government continues to take steps to align more closely with Europe to remove red tape, grow our economy and ensure our businesses can trade seamlessly on a north-south and east-west basis," Long said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Sir Keir Starmer for the UK - EU Summit on Monday

What does the deal mean for Northern Ireland?

Some goods will be allowed "to flow freely again" between Northern Ireland and Great Britain as a result of the new UK-EU deal, the government has said.

The agreement includes an agri-food deal to remove "some routine checks" on animal and plant products moving between the UK and the EU.

This is likely to reduce the impact of the trade border in the Irish Sea which was introduced as a result of Brexit.

In a statement, the government said getting rid of these UK-EU goods checks "could lower food prices and increase choice on supermarket shelves".

The Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the wide-ranging agreement affecting food, fishing and security after hosting EU leaders at a summit in London.

It includes a new SPS agreement - which stands for sanitary and phytosanitary and refers to rules about animals and food.

The government said this will reduce "red tape" for businesses, simplify food exports and imports and help cut lorry queues at borders.

If a full agri-food deal follows, potentially later this year, that will reduce the need for checks and controls on products being sent from GB to Northern Ireland