It is unclear whether checks on goods along the Irish Sea Border have been stopped, following an order from Northern Ireland’s agriculture minister. It is confirmed that Belfast Port’s facilities are at least partly in operation. 

Democratic Unionist Party politician Edwin Poots’ order, which he says is justified by legal advice, follows the long-standing opposition the post-Brexit deal has faced from the DUP and other unionist groups.

The Protocol was implemented to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the wake of Brexit by keeping Northern Ireland in the EU’s single market for goods.

This means goods imported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland require inspections to ensure compliance with EU law, which unionist groups argue contravenes the region’s relationship with the rest of the UK.

The DUP’s power-sharing partners, Irish republican party Sinn Féin, have criticised Poots’ move as a “stunt”, while Ireland’s foreign minister Simon Coveney has warned the DUP that such a move would breach international law.

The UK government has refused involvement and have said the issue remains a “matter for the Northern Ireland Executive”.

The UK’s foreign secretary Liz Truss is due to hold talks with EU Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič on the Protocol later today.