Paperwork linked to the Northern Ireland Protocol may be to blame for a Northern Ireland council being unable to source a Christmas tree from GB, a DUP rep has said.
Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) received only one tender for a festive fern, from the Republic of Ireland, after calling for firms to offer to supply one.
The Council awarded an almost £18,000 contract to a Co Kerry firm.
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The NI Protocol, which prevents certain products being easily imported from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, allows for the free travel of goods across the Irish border.
Reacting to the news, DUP LCCC leisure committee member, Cllr Jonathan Craig said: “The fact that the council had only one tender for natural Christmas trees this year, I would not rule out the NI Protocol as having a negative impact on other competition from within the other UK regions.
“We would normally have sourced Christmas trees from other regions of the UK if we could not have found them in Northern Ireland.
“The amount of paperwork that is being forced on imports to Northern Ireland from the UK mainland has probably meant that producers of Christmas trees there have simply thought that it was just not worth bothering to tender for the contract. “I do know that there appears to be a worldwide shortage on Christmas trees.
“We as a council are now actively looking at generating an amount of our own permanent supply of trees in the district, where they can grow in a natural environment all year round on the very site they will be displayed on at Christmas. It will work in some areas, but not in others.
“There will be some need to maintain the tress, however I believe that it will be economically viable and provide a reliable and cheaper option in the future.”
The recent November full council meeting approved the seasonal contract being signed to the ‘Killarney Christmas Tree Farm, Co Kerry’, for “procurement of civic and community harvested Christmas trees”.
A LCCC spokesperson said: “Only one company completed a submission and was awarded the contract. The current contract is for one year with an option to extend. The cost for 2022 is £17,970.
“The council purchased freshly cut, real Christmas trees from a supplier in Co Kerry following an open tender process, in line with established procurement practices.
“These trees are currently placed in a range of locations across community and council facilities.”
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