Brexit - Does Anyone Here Have A Solution For The Irish Border Problem?

[Roman52]

So far our politicians have failed to find a workable solution.

[kvalidir]

No and I don't think one will be found which will render Brexit totally unworkable.

[jno]

There are solutions, but unacceptable to one side or the other. Britain, having voted for Brexit partly as a means to control its own borders, can't really complain if the EU wants to do the same. It's as if they completely forgot they even had a land border.

[Gromit]

A United Ireland.

Only joking.

A frictionless border where there are no barriers but all goods that go through are pre-barcoded and listed on a database that both sides have access to. UK and ROP agree to no tariffs, so no monies are taken nor repaid.

[sandyRoe]

gromit's suggestion of a United Ireland could be the solution.
Of course England and Scotland would need to be prepared for an influx of Unionists who wouldn't want to be subjected to Papish rule.

[mushroom25]

//A United Ireland. //

why not? northern Ireland voted to remain, and Ian Paisley can only be speechless with rage from the great debating chamber in the sky...

[sandyRoe]

More likely Peon Aisley is turning on a spit down below.

[Theland]

Jacob Rees Mogg and the ERG have the answer.

[douglas9401]

I fear that if one thinks a united Ireland is a possible answer then one has been asleep these past three and a bit centuries.

There will be no pot pourri controlling the north.

[ToraToraTora]

yes, do nothing at all, if the EU want a border that's their issue.

[Roman52]

Gromit - I think that's the solution TM is proposing, but so far the technology is not available that would actually do the job.

[New Judge]

"Britain, having voted for Brexit partly as a means to control its own borders, can't really complain if the EU wants to do the same."

You missed a bit out and misunderstand another bit:

(1) The United Kingdom voted to control its own borders as it thinks fit. Not as unelected foreign bureaucrats think it should.

(2) The EU does not have any borders to control. They are under the control (for the moment, at least) of the individual nations.

The Irish border is a non-issue. Billions of pounds worth of goods currently enter the EU (from outside) via such places as Dover, Felixtowe, Tilbury, Gatwick and Heathrow every year. Less than 1% of it is physically checked. Similar arrangements prevail in other EU countries, including those with land borders with "the great beyond". But suddenly the piffling amount of trade (relatively speaking) that crosses the Irish border is seen as an insurmountable problem.

But let's assume for the sake of argument that it is truly insurmountable. The UK has no intention of imposing a hard border and neither does Ireland. That is a fact. The EU has neither the resources nor the authority to do so. So, I'll ask again: just what will happen on March 31st next year if the UK leaves with no "deal" agreed? What will happen to lorries travelling from Belfast to Dublin?

[cassa333]

They’ll hit the invisible border and come to a grinding stop of course.

Either that or they will just trundle along to their next destination.

Paper trail oh paper trail from here to there and back again....

[Spungle]

What's wrong with the Irish border solution in the Chequers plan?

[Roman52]

As the Chequers plan stands I doubt it would get through Parliament, and I think the EU will have some objections to parts of it too.

[Spungle]

Yes, fair point- but that's more about the opposition and the backbenchers being awkward than the plan being a bad idea, isn't it? Regrettably, the government are going to have a battle getting any of it through Parliament.

[New Judge]

"What's wrong with the Irish border solution in the Chequers plan?"

What's wrong with it is that it necessitates the UK keeping a "common rulebook for all goods" with the EU, including agricultural products, after Brexit. It also involves the UK committing to "continued harmonisation" with EU rules.

People who voted to leave voted to end the imposition of EU rules over UK affairs. They voted to leave so that the UK Parliament could determine what goes on in the UK and what regulations UK businesses had to subscribe to. A"common rule book" and "continued harmonisation" will not permit that.

[cassa333]

Surely only goods sold to the EU have to be in line wit EU rules?

So if farmer joe decides to sells his sheep or carrots or whatever to the EU he would have to abide by its rules. (Animal welfare, pesticide use etc) But if Farmer Ted does not sell to the EU he can sell to someone else but shouldn’t be subject to the same rules as Farmer Joe.!!!

[jourdain2]

I completely agree with cassa. Only firms which trade directly with the EU should need to apply their standards.

[New Judge]

"Surely only goods sold to the EU have to be in line wit EU rules?"

You would think so but they don't. Nineteen out of twenty companies in the UK have no dealings with the EU whatsoever. But all their products have to comply with EU standards even if they never leave the UK. More than that, all UK companies have to comply with EU directives which have nothing to do with product standards covering such things as working time and environmental restrictions.

It's part of the EU's desire to see Europe viewed from elsewhere as a single nation. The "Chequers" solution to the Irish border will see the continuation of that regime and is completely contrary to the idea of leaving the EU.

[Old_Geezer]

3 for you, but each can only be enacted by those involved. The only solutions are :

a) The EU starts being reasonable.
b) The RoI and the UK ignore EU demands.
c) We all put up with the mess caused when the EU can't be flexible when it is called for.

Simple.