Current Affairs EU In or Out

[gorgeousgeorgeEFC]

 

[Ruairi77]

I cant fathom it out either. I hope something can be worked out as I wouldn't want to see a negative consequence of Brexit.

Unfortunately, I think it's inevitable that this will be a negative Consequence of Brexit.
If there is a hard border, the nationalists won't be happy.
If there's a soft border, the hard border will be forced to the airports and ferry ports of Northern Ireland, effectively cutting N.Ireland off from the rest of the Union. The unionists won't like that. Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

 

[peteblue]

Merkel is in panic mode. Her burgha talk is clear indication

Yep, apparently Farage has already ridiculed her about it.......

 

[peteblue]

Agreed. Out of interest why does everyone on here think she allowed the amount of immigration she did? Was it a caring benevolence to the plight of refugees or was it for economic reasons because of the demographics of the German population and the financial need for extra immigration? I don't know so am genuinely curious what people think.

Germany needed immigrants and what Germany wants everyone else pays for.......

 

[The Cowboy]

I think you're right. Doesn't make any sense to leave a huge stretch of border between the EU and UK open especially when immigration seems to be a huge deal for the English.
I'm from Louth, grew up close to the border and although I would hate to see it, I fear a hard border would lead us back to a dark place we thought was behind us.
I dont think a lot of English voters considered these consequences when they voted to leave. Forget stopping wars on the continent, membership of the EU has helped stop a war on our doorsteps.

Well, NI voted 56/44 Remain, so there's a lot of non-English who didn't consider the consequences either. Don't stick it all on the English.

Genuine question, but was it only EU membership that led to open borders in Ireland? What was it like before the EU?

 

[roydo]

Well, NI voted 56/44 Remain, so there's a lot of non-English who didn't consider the consequences either. Don't stick it all on the English.

Genuine question, but was it only EU membership that led to open borders in Ireland? What was it like before the EU?

Not an expert, but the open border was probably part of the Good Friday agreement and all that gubbins. The border controls were more security driven than anything else.

 

[Ruairi77]

Well, NI voted 56/44 Remain, so there's a lot of non-English who didn't consider the consequences either. Don't stick it all on the English.

Genuine question, but was it only EU membership that led to open borders in Ireland? What was it like before the EU?

That's a fair point!
and on the second question, as far as I know there was border and customs checks pre EU. However, I think the Punt was tied to sterling right up till 1972 so there wasn't trade fluctuations north and south of the border. I wasn't born till the mid 70's so I'm not sure, but no one talked about those lovely days before the EEC when there was no border.

 

[The Esk]

Unfortunately, I think it's inevitable that this will be a negative Consequence of Brexit.
If there is a hard border, the nationalists won't be happy.
If there's a soft border, the hard border will be forced to the airports and ferry ports of Northern Ireland, effectively cutting N.Ireland off from the rest of the Union. The unionists won't like that. Damned if you do, Damned if you don't.

It is difficult to see a remotely workable solution other than a hard border at the entry points to the Republic, but not the borders between Northern Ireland and the Republic itself.

I appreciate entirely that if I was a citizen of the Republic I would find this quite abhorent and an infringement upon my rights as a EU citizen.

Yet another ghastly consequence of this ill conceived scheme called Brexit.

 

[Ruairi77]

That's a fair point!
and on the second question, as far as I know there was border and customs checks pre EU. However, I think the Punt was tied to sterling right up till 1972 so there wasn't trade fluctuations north and south of the border. I wasn't born till the mid 70's so I'm not sure, but no one talked about those lovely days before the EEC when there was no border.

On checking, the Irish Pound separated from Sterling in 1979 when Ireland joined the European Monetary System and the UK did not.

 

[Ruairi77]

It is difficult to see a remotely workable solution other than a hard border at the entry points to the Republic, but not the borders between Northern Ireland and the Republic itself.

I appreciate entirely that if I was a citizen of the Republic I would find this quite abhorent and an infringement upon my rights as a EU citizen.

Yet another ghastly consequence of this ill conceived scheme called Brexit.

True but I'm not even sure how that would work as the Republic would not turn away any EU citizens. These EU citizens could then freely cross in to the UK. They could freely gain access to part of the country but not all of it. Seems like a recipe for disaster!

Not one person who voted to leave has offered a viable solution to this problem. It's fingers in the ears - 'lalala we'll sort it out when we get there' stuff. Seems fairly indicative of the whole process to me.

 

[roydo]

True but I'm not even sure how that would work as the Republic would not turn away any EU citizens. These EU citizens could then freely cross in to the UK. They could freely gain access to part of the country but not all of it. Seems like a recipe for disaster!

Not one person who voted to leave has offered a viable solution to this problem. It's fingers in the ears - 'lalala we'll sort it out when we get there' stuff. Seems fairly indicative of the whole process to me.

Just wait until Scotland has another referendum.............

 

[The Esk]

True but I'm not even sure how that would work as the Republic would not turn away any EU citizens. These EU citizens could then freely cross in to the UK. They could freely gain access to part of the country but not all of it. Seems like a recipe for disaster!

Not one person who voted to leave has offered a viable solution to this problem. It's fingers in the ears - 'lalala we'll sort it out when we get there' stuff. Seems fairly indicative of the whole process to me.

Yes it doesn't resolve the issue of EU citizens being free to enter the Republic and then cross into Northern Ireland. I'm sure that solution would be taken to the European Courts immediately.

Perhaps we should just forget Brexit and get on with growing our economy and selling more stuff to the Europeans....

 

[Armaghtoffee]

Not an expert, but the open border was probably part of the Good Friday agreement and all that gubbins. The border controls were more security driven than anything else.

Not an actual part of the agreement but certainly a key point for Republicans/Nationalists in the 5 years before agreement. And yes it was entirely security driven.

 

[Ruairi77]

Yes it doesn't resolve the issue of EU citizens being free to enter the Republic and then cross into Northern Ireland. I'm sure that solution would be taken to the European Courts immediately.

Perhaps we should just forget Brexit and get on with growing our economy and selling more stuff to the Europeans....

naaaah, it'll never work.

 

[Gwladysstreetlad]

Just wait until Scotland has another referendum.............

The problem Scotland would face is that they wouldn't be allowed to keep their old membership of the EU and would have to re-apply to join again. They have no guarantees that nations like Spain and Italy to name just two wouldn't veto it. It would be a very hard campaign for the SNP to convince the Scottish people to leave the UK with no guarantees they'd be allowed into the EU. If they really wanted independence they'd of been in a much stronger position last time. Besides, people have really had enough of referendums to last them a lifetime, I doubt there'd be much appetite for a second Independence referendum right now.