The UUP's Doug Beattie says the DNA of "some unionists" is on the trade border down the Irish Sea, "separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK".

He says the Belfast Agreement has been "undermined at best and breached at worst, with no consideration from those in this assembly and within the European Parliament who said we must protect the agreement at all costs".

The Upper Bann MLA expresses regret that "in both trade and justice, NI has been separated from the United Kingdom".

"The Ulster Unionist Party warned about the impact on Northern Ireland's position within the UK and yet we were ignored and instead some followed the lead of English nationalism, who have got absolutely no interest whatsoever in Northern Ireland."

SLDP MLA Sinead McLaughlin begins her remarks by saying "Brexit was always going to be bad".

"This deal is not the worst possible outcome because we now know that the British government accepts that a bad deal is better than no deal," says Ms McLaughlin.

"The DUP's support for Brexit was the biggest own-goal for unionism."

The MLA said she was looking forward to the executive putting in place an economic strategy that supports the growth of an all-island economy.

Brexit presents a "particularly bad outcome" for citizens in NI who "choose to identify as British", she says.

Winston Churchill comes up yet again - Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew refers to a previous quote about seizing opportunity from difficulty.

"He [Churchill] can hardly have meant you seek out difficulty in order to create opportunity," he says.

The The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA then explains that the collective noun for turkeys is a rafter.

"What we are seeing here is a rafter of Tory turkeys voting for Christmas at Christmas time, being cheered on by the DUP all the way.

"The unfortunate element of that is that we will all have to deal with the damaging elements of that all the way."

He expresses concern about the European health card (the EHIC) and where NI residents stand in terms of health insurance in Europe.

"While the Irish government has said they will step in and assure that, there are no guarantees," he says.

The DUP's Paul Givan says the UK voted for "openness" in the Brexit referendum but the hopes "have not been fully realised".

"Even in this deal it has not been fully realised for those in Great Britain, it certainly hasn't been realised here for the people of Northern Ireland" he says.

However, he says the motivation of voters in 2016 to get "fundamental freedoms" are what drives "those of us on these benches" to realise those dreams.

He accuses the "political elite" of regarding those people as "the stupid ones", highlighting Nichola Mallon's earlier use of the word 'stupidity'.

"The democratic principles of the SDLP run very, very thin when it comes to respecting the wishes of the people," he says.

"I am confident that if Great Britain benefits from the trade deals, we too benefit as a result of being part of the United Kingdom," he adds.

"One of the biggest consequences of us leaving the EU against our will is the loss of funding," says Sinn Féin's Declan McAleer

"We get an average of £300m per year of EU funding for single farm payments, and while we've had promises until the end of this mandate from the British government, there's nothing beyond that."

"We're also being dragged out of the Rural Development Programme," says the West Tyrone MLA.

He expresses concern about Britain opening up its market to foreign trade deals "that could have a potential impact for farmers here" if they displace NI's share in the British market.

DUP MLA Mervyn Storey begins his remarks by adding another quotation from Winston Churchill - the third so far. He quotes the former prime minister, saying: "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

The DUP MLA reminds the chamber that the UK voted to leave the EU: "All of a sudden now, the principle of consent has almost been consigned to history."

He gives way to Christopher Stalford who asks Nichola Mallon if she finds it "telling" that she chose to refer to Scottish, Welsh and Irish people during her remarks but "could not find it in herself to refer to British people", asking "what does that say about her vision for the future?"

Back on his feet, Mr Storey asks the chamber: "When are we going to have respect for Northern Ireland?"

"As we stand on the verge of celebrating our 100th anniversary, there are still the derogatory comments 'the north'," he says.

"The north in Northern Ireland is Rathlin," he adds.

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson opens by saying: "I'm a European and no one will take that away from me."

"I don't think it could come much later, but this has been another page in the history books of what has been a dire and difficult year. It is a moment of sorrow and reflection at what we're losing.

The East Antrim member quotes Churchill - as had Arlene Foster earlier - saying: "If you destroy a free market, you create a black market."

Mr Dixon says there is no such thing as "a good Brexit".

He describes it as "a mess of red tape and bureaucracy".

"We have more rules today than those we're leaving behind."

"It is regrettable and also welcome that the Irish government has had to step in to prevent Northern Ireland citizens from losing some of their rights.

"Unfortunately this process has shown the limits of our influence, not least of one particular party in this chamber, despite all their vaunted promises."

"Democracy takes no break for holidays," says the Infrastructure minister as she begins her remarks.

Nichola Mallon says Brexit and its fallout "will have far-reaching consequences for all of us on this island".

"Our young people especially will live with the Brexit factor for years to come," says the SDLP MLA.

Ms Mallon pledges she will "campaign for our return to full membership of the European Union" for "as long as it takes".

Ms Mallon says it would be good if the DUP "stop acting like we are stupid", as she blames them for negative Brexit implications on NI.

She says the trade deal "brings new barriers to trade and new consequences for our society and our economy".

The DUP's Foyle MLA Gary Middleton says there is an acceptance from NI business that "the result of the Brexit referendum was very clear".

"The UK-EU agreement reached on Christmas Eve removes a cliff edge related to tariffs and quotas - this has been welcomed by many," he says.

However, he adds that the agreement "can never provide the clarity and certainty NI businesses need and deserve".

"A free trade deal is better than no deal, but for Northern Ireland, this deal does not undo the detrimental aspects of the Protocol."

The DUP has consistently opposed the Protocol, which Mr Middleton says was brought about by an "inaccurate and hyped-up argument about the sanctity of the border".

UUP leader Steve Aiken says there are "many flaws" in the Trade and Co-operation Treaty.

He is calling for the UK and EU governments to recognise that agreement "does not make Northern Ireland's position easier".

He says: "The very severe implications of the imposition of this unequal protocol treaty and agree to derogate the requirements for its many provisions to be introduced for a year at least."

He says the non-tariff barriers to trade will "significantly distort business, agriculture, trade, security and not least how democratic accountability is provided for" in NI.

Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald says there is "no mandate for Brexit, that is being foisted on the people of the north".

"This assembly has not consented to Brexit," she says.

Ms Archibald quotes Manufacturing NI, saying it is "the first trade deal which makes trade more difficult than the current status quo".

"Brexit is an agenda driven by narrow English nationalist motives and the harking back to the days of an empire long gone. Its casualties are our business and economy."

She says NI will suffer as it has previously been "a net beneficiary of EU funding".

The first minister says that while for "various reasons" all Stormont parties have held different views on Brexit, they are "unified in their commitment" to securing the best Brexit outcomes for NI.

"Whilst acknowledging those differences it is equally important to recognise that as with members in this chamber, we have been unified in our commitment in securing the best possible outcomes for our communities, businesses and citizens," says Arlene Foster.

The DUP leader says the executive has been clear in it's engagement with the UK government and the EU.

She states that the best outcomes will be achieved through "a comprehensive future relationship agreement".

"An agreement which minimises the impact on our society, our businesses and economy and allows Northern Ireland to prosper."

First Minister Arlene Foster opens the debate saying the text for the Brexit deal is extensive and will require "careful legal scrutiny" by legal advisors.

She paraphrases Winston Churchill saying: "It's not the beginning of the end, it's the end of the beginning."

Mrs Foster says the assembly has got "limited time" to "fully scrutinise the implications of the agreement and the proposed bill", describing the situation as "regrettable".

"As an executive we felt that it was important the Assembly had the opportunity to have their say," she adds.

The Speaker Alex Maskey has opened proceedings explaining the debate is due to last three hours and speakers proposing amendments will have ten minutes to make their points, other speakers will have five minutes.

You can get all the background to today's debate here.

And even more info here from our Business and Economics Editor John Campbell.

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to Tuesday's live coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Assembly has returned early from Christmas recess to debate the Brexit trade deal agreed between the UK and the EU.

MLAs are meeting after the speaker approved a request from the first and deputy first ministers.

The motion will not be legally binding but "takes note" of the trade deal.

The action kicks off at 12:00 GMT. Do stay with us.