Peers back North freedom of movement following Brexit

The power to grant or deny freedom of movement to EU nationals within the North should be devolved to Stormont following Brexit, British peers have urged.

The House of Lords EU Committee said the power would be contained in a draft bilateral treaty which should be agreed between the UK and Ireland to protect the €60bn trade between the countries, subject to approval from the EU during exit negotiations.

Peers warned if the UK government and institutions of the EU failed to pay enough attention to the consequences of Brexit for Ireland, they risked undermining “the efforts of all those who have worked so hard for peace and good relations across these islands”.