Northern Ireland pet travel scheme approved despite Unionist opposition
Pets moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland will need to have a pet travel document from 2025.
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Your support makes all the difference.MPs have voted in favour of a Northern Ireland pet travel scheme as part of the Windsor Framework, despite opposition from unionist parties.
On Wednesday MPs approved the draft Windsor Framework (Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals) Regulations 2024, with 412 in favour and 16 against.
The Windsor Framework is a post-Brexit agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom which replaces the Northern Ireland Protocol.
During a Delegated Legislation Committee meeting last week TUV leader Jim Allister said the move imposed a āpet passport schemeā.
He said: āPeople must belong to a pet scheme and submit their dog, cat or ferret to documentary and identity checks on getting on the boat and on leaving the boatāall that is within the one country.
āAll that is because, for the first time since Brexit, the EU has legislated for the United Kingdom. I want that to sink in.ā
He added: āThese regulations impose that foreign-made regulation, made not for the EUāit is not applicable to the EUābut for this United Kingdom.
āHow is it that we have got to the point that this Committee is expected merely to nod to legislation made not by this House, for this United Kingdom?
āIt is not that it is imposing obligations unique to Northern Ireland; it is imposing obligations on GB citizens, who want to bring their pet to visit family, the Giantās Causeway or the many tourist attractions in Northern Ireland.
āNow, courtesy of the demands of this foreign EU legislation, they must belong to a pet scheme, apply for and obtain a pet passport, subject their pet to document and identity checks, and thenāand only thenācan they move their pet internally within the United Kingdom.
āThat is an astounding situation, and an astounding imposition on citizens of Great Britain.ā
Environment minister Emma Hardy said: āThe aim of the original Northern Ireland protocol and the framework was to avoid the need for any hard border, as I am sure (Mr Allister) knows, in the island of Ireland, between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The scheme safeguards that position.
āThe position that he advocates is one that does not existāwe are not a member of the European Union.
āWe are fulfilling our requirements under the Windsor framework, because the Government believe in our international obligations.
āWe believe in keeping our word and in fulfilling our obligations.
āWhen we make an agreement, as with the Windsor framework, we fulfil that agreement, and do everything we can to ensure that that is done in good faith.ā
During Northern Ireland questions last month the Government played down concerns over post-Brexit travel arrangements, amid calls in Westminster to āliberate the people of Northern Ireland and our pets from EU diktatā.
Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn told MPs the statutory instrument for the Northern Ireland pet travel scheme āsignificantly reduces the requirements associated with the original Northern Ireland Protocol and provides a stable and long-term arrangement for those travelling with their pets within the UK.ā
Mr Allister went on to tell the Commons: āWhen the grip of EU law controls even the movement of our pets within the United Kingdom isnāt it clear weāve gone far too far in regarding Northern Ireland as EU territory?
āFor that is the reason for this absurd regulation, which at the behest of the EU imposes pet passports if you want to bring your pet from GB to Northern Ireland.
āThereās no point the Secretary of State saying it could have been worse, it shouldnāt exist at all.
āWhen will this Government get the EU off our back and liberate the people of Northern Ireland and our pets from EU diktat?ā
Mr Benn replied: āWell, as I hope (Mr Allister) is aware, Northern Ireland pet owners will not face any checks and will not be required to hold a pet travel document so I think in discussing this thereās an obligation on him and all of us to make sure we present the facts so that people are not unnecessarily troubled.ā