BELFAST: Northern Ireland's First Minister, Paul Givan, has resigned as part of his Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol, a post-Brexit trade agreement.
"Today marks the end of what has been the privilege of my lifetime," Givan said as he resigned on Thursday, a day after one of his ministers attempted to cease inspection of goods entering from the British mainland, a move that breached the Northern Ireland Protocol and enraged the European Union (EU).
According to the reports, the Northern Ireland Protocol, which is part of the agreed rules following the UK's exit from the EU, goods between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland can continue to be sent seamlessly across the border, which is now the only EU frontier within the British Isles.
However, a de facto border was established across the Irish Sea, which has long been criticised by the DUP and companies for making it more difficult to bring products to Northern Ireland from the UK mainland.
"Our institutions are being put to the test once more. The Northern Ireland protocol, which was created by the United Kingdom government and the EU, has influenced the delicate balance created by the Belfast and St Andrews agreements "Givan said.
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