The Irish Border????

[rich47]

There are only two solutions to the Irish border question in the brexit context and they are united Ireland and UK remains in EU. I see no problem with either solution!!!!

[Old_Geezer]

OF

[New Judge]

There is no need for either.

Neither side has any intention of installing or policing a hard border. The EU has neither the resources nor the authority to do so. Since it seems only the EU is concerned at the vast quantities (!) of smuggled goods that might cross the border it is incumbent on them to provide a solution. There are already differences in excise and tax rates applicable on either side of the border and the small quantities of goods that pass across it do so quite satisfactorily without intervention.

Goods enter the EU t various points from all over the world without there being a visible customs presence. The issue has simply been weaponised by the EU to make our exit as difficult as possible. It’s quite clear they have no intention of agreeing to a deal which does not involve us being in their customs union and so to continue to act as unpaid tax collectors for them. It’s about time our spineless so-called leaders accepted that and told them where to go.

[anotheoldgit]

Not our problem come out of the EU and then let them sort it out, after all shouldn't be a problem, most of the other borders in Europe are open.

[ToraToraTora]

UK and Ireland do nothing that's the solution, end of.

[gulliver1]

Just watching the news ,Theresa May says Brexit will have to be delayed until at least 2021.

[spathiphyllum]

How will you make sure no immigrants are coming into our country illegally if South Ireland and North Ireland have a loose border?

Surely every person will need to be checked to help enforce our independence?

"do nothing"

Seems that's what they are doing TTT. But i do wish you'd stop saying end of, it makes you seem quite pompous.

[jim360]

"UK and Ireland do nothing" means that the UK keeps the same rules as before, ie, the UK remains aligned with the EU's Customs Union.

I was under the impression that Brexiters wanted to break *away* from the EU...

[bainbrig]

Not too long ago, Ireland WAS a united nation. The invention of the six counties was done to appease the lunatic right-wingers in the North.

Never a good idea to appease lunatic right-wingers.

[Old_Geezer]

"How will you make sure no immigrants are coming into our country illegally if South Ireland and North Ireland have a loose border?"

How do you now ?

""UK and Ireland do nothing" means that the UK keeps the same rules as before, ie, the UK remains aligned with the EU's Customs Union."

You know full well it doesn't mean nothing at all, but nothing to change it being open. Naughty Jim :-p

[Old_Geezer]

"The invention of the six counties was done to appease the lunatic right-wingers in the North."

Strange, I thought the whole of Ireland was in the UK once. Wasn't it the 26 counties in the south that were made independent due to republicans' wishes ?

[New Judge]

"How will you make sure no immigrants are coming into our country illegally if South Ireland and North Ireland have a loose border? "

"Surely every person will need to be checked to help enforce our independence?"

Have a little think, spathy. It always helps. The UK and Ireland have decided that they have no wish to interrupt traffic between the two countries. That is a decision that any two countries should be able to take if they find it mutually agreeable. It's only when supra-national entities become involved, displaying delusions of grandeur that problems begin.

There has been no border in Ireland for a hundred years - long before the EU and its predecessors e into being. There is not a problem with anybody entering the UK from Ireland now because such entry is not illegal. Free movement between the two was facilitated long before the two countries became EU members and it will continue after our departure.

[sheepdipper6]

I for one say give ireland back to the Irish and be done with them. No Ireland no border no problems.

[Ellipsis]

If the border issue is going to result in "No deal" then it's worth looking, in the event of "No deal", what happens to the border ... because we may as well adopt that position for the border and then do a deal over everything else.

[mushroom25]

//I for one say give ireland back to the Irish and be done with them. No Ireland no border no problems. //

cue the sound of the rev ian paisley spinning violently in his coffin....

[ichkeria]

The issue is customs NJ not movement of people. And of course there was a customs border a lot more recently than 100 years ago : I know because I remember the customs posts and I’m not THAT old.

[gness]

Hmmmm......not sure the south really wants the north back now... :-)

[bainbrig]

Geezer wonders “Strange, I thought the whole of Ireland was in the UK once. Wasn't it the 26 counties in the south that were made independent due to republicans' wishes ?”

Well, just shows how wrong you can be about your own history, Geezer. Look up the Six Counties in Wikipedia. Pre-1914 or so, the Protestant working class of Belfast and the Catholic working class of Dublin marched together. It was the actions of the northern ‘Unionists’ that led to a divided Ireland.

[maggiebee]

Agree totally with the OP.

[New Judge]

"The issue is customs NJ not movement of people."

I know it is ikky (as my many posts on the topic will attest). I was addressing spathi's point about "illegal" migration across the border which he seems to believe is a matter we should be concerned about.

[New Judge]

"Agree totally with the OP."

So essentially then, maggie, the UK must remain in the EU because that organisation cannot respect the historical agreements made between two of its members (long before the EU came into being) without suggesting that one part of the UK must be treated differently to all the rest?