Actor Liam Neeson has ordered politicians to “get back to work” as he admitted his frustration over trading arrangements in Northern Ireland in the wake of Brexit.
A boycott by the DUP is currently putting devolved power-sharing institutions on hold due to economic barriers to trade from Great Britain.
The UK and EU recently agreed a new deal which tackles the Northern Ireland Protocol trading agreement, but the DUP has yet to sign up to the Windsor Framework.
It reduces checks on goods heading towards Northern Ireland from Britain through a green lane, with items heading into the Republic of Ireland entering through a red lane.
Neeson, 70, criticised the Windsor Framework
Reuters
Speaking on RTE, the Taken star Neeson, 70, said he tries to keep up with the developments in the country from his home in New York.
“Certainly, with the whole protocol and stuff there’s a part of you wants to say ‘come on for God’s sake, we are talking about sausages here and the s*** that’s going on in the Middle East and Ukraine of course’.
“But they’re working their way through it and, you know, there’s no border and there’s going to be a green lane and a red lane.
“How many months did that take to think ‘hey, let’s think of a green lane and a red lane’?
The New York-based actor said he tries to stay up to date with the news at home
PA
“And get back to work for God’s sake. You are drawing a salary. Get back to work, represent the people, all the people.”
Support for the Windsor Framework has come from US President Joe Biden, who welcomed Irish premier Leo Varadkar to the White House to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.
The visit came just weeks after the agreement was made.
Speaking to Varadkar in front of the media ahead of their bilateral talks, President Biden noted his recent discussions with UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak on the revised deal with the EU on post-Brexit trading arrangements.
Biden and Varadkar at St Patrick's Day celebrations in the White HousePA“I very strongly supported the Windsor Framework, which I know you do too,” said the president.
At a later St Patrick’s lunch on Capitol Hill hosted by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Biden again expressed firm backing for the Windsor Framework.
“It’s a vital, vital step and it’s going to help to ensure that all the people in Northern Ireland have an opportunity to realise their full potential,” he said.
Earlier at the White House, Varadkar thanked the president for backing Ireland’s position on issues related to Brexit.
