Current Affairs Irish Border and Brexit

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

It's interesting that British government ministers have now conceded that the backstop must remain in the Withdrawal Agreement, and appear to have shifted their position from demanding its removal to seeking changes in it. James Brokenshire ruled out dropping it on TV this morning.

This of course is contradictory to what we have been told on here in recent weeks by certain persons that the EU would eventually give in and that the "stupid" backstop will be ditched. It also flies in the face of the DUP's demands and their 'red lines'. The penny must have finally dropped with May's government that the EU and Ireland are not going to back down on this critical issue, simply because they can't. It's far too important.

Meanwhile the squabbling continues at Westminster with the continuation of our peace process at stake. Its not theirs to play games with; they have a responsibilty to uphold their end of the bargain which was reached in 1998. Time is running out for them to make a decision and let us know what they are going to do. In the meantime we are hanging on in quiet desperation. And waiting, and waiting..

 

[gonetomorrow]

Ha Ha (throws head back and laughs in cavalier fashion).

We will be ok. The country that produced The Beatles and The Rolling Stones will do all right.

Why? Because the Europeans all think we are cool and they want to do business with us.

That's why.

 

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

And all they can do is snigger...

 

[Carl O'Ancelotti]

Bertie on form today speaking to a HOC select committee....

Bertie Ahern asked how Ireland feels about ‘re-joining the UK’

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has told a House of Commons select committee that suggestions the Republic of Ireland “re-join” the UK, leave the European Union or ignore its obligations to protect the EU border, have not gone down very well in Ireland. Mr Ahern was being questioned at the Exiting the European Union Committee in London as Brexit looms at the end of March. He was asked by MPs for his views on how the issue of the Border between the North and the Republic would be resolved before March 29th and about the constitutional position of Northern Ireland post-Brexit.

“The Good Friday agreement resolved the constitutional issue in Northern Ireland on the basis of consent, that Northern Ireland as of now remains part of United Kingdom and until some day that changes by the will of the people. We also have to be very clear on this and, chairman with the greatest of respect, sometimes when I hear people, including some distinguished members of parliament and I totally respect their views and others, talking loudly over the past few years of no basis existing for divergence of any kind between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, I look to wondering had I turned into Rip Van Winkle, that great man from the legend who fell asleep for 20 years and woke up finding everything changed."

“The reality is when I changed the constitutional position of Articles 2 and 3, what that did was I said there was a difference between Dublin and Belfast. that’s what I said, but I also said that there was a difference between Belfast and Finchley." Mr Ahern, who was one of the architects of the 1998 Belfast Agreement said the argument that Northern Ireland was “precisely the same as Finchley” was “constitutionally incorrect as per the Good Friday Agreement and I think people need to understand that”.

MP Peter Grant of the Scottish Nationalist Party asked Mr Ahern: “Some of the other things that have been suggested, and some of them have gained a degree of traction within this parliament in some quarters that have been said would solve the problem."

“One is that the Republic of Ireland unilaterally goes against the requirement of the EU treaties by not carrying out its responsibility to maintain the border of the EU after Brexit. One is that the Republic should just leave the European Union and that would solve all the problems and one which I believe is the subject of a petition to this parliament is that the Republic should re-join the United Kingdom and that would solve all the problems. What’s your impressions of how these various suggestions have been received by the people of Ireland?

Mr Ahern responded: “Well I’ll just be kind and say not very well.” “Unfortunately we have an 800-year past of difficulties and that’s just a reality of our history.”

You tell 'em Bertie.. lol

 

[TyphooToffee]

Quite a few Lexiteers. Maybe not enough to have closed the gap on 52-48, but enough to have drawn it closer and less of a win that the Tory hard right could parade as a substantial mandate for their type of Brexit. If the EU hadn't bludgeoned Greece on the 'eve' of the referendum there might have been that closer outcome.

I'm not pointing the finger at anyone here, but I'd love to know what percentage of pro-EU bleaters actually turned out to vote in the referendum. I bet it's a lot lower percentage than that of the leavers.

 

[Armaghtoffee]

May has 7 weeks to deliver this.

Border technology 'could take 10 years'

David Henig has given evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the border after Brexit.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[SteveSC]

May has 7 weeks to deliver this.

Border technology 'could take 10 years'

David Henig has given evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the border after Brexit.

www.bbc.co.uk

"He estimates a 10-year timeframe on the basis of how long it takes to implement major government IT projects"

Similar to what i said many pages ago.

Those in the industry and those who have dealt with projects and especially government projects know this. Interesting how many in the UK have stayed quiet.

Sad that there are a few brexiteers on here who at the time tried to belittle my similar statement.

 

[peteblue]

May has 7 weeks to deliver this.

Border technology 'could take 10 years'

David Henig has given evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on the border after Brexit.

www.bbc.co.uk

He’s a trade expert. What is his technology background ?.....

 

[Armaghtoffee]

He’s a trade expert. What is his technology background ?.....

The article isn’t just about the technological aspect of it, it also references the human side on embedding this said technology that does not exist.

I suspect that if it was presently workable then this trade expert would be furnishing us with examples.

 

[peteblue]

The article isn’t just about the technological aspect of it, it also references the human side on embedding this said technology that does not exist.

I suspect that if it was presently workable then this trade expert would be furnishing us with examples.

I believe Norway has one.....

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I believe Norway has one.....

And do you believe it is accurately comparable to Ireland?

Is Oslo as Irish as Omeath?

 

[Harryflashman]

I believe Norway has one.....

I know firstly it’s slightly different because they’re in the single market via the EEA but I’ve just been reading an article on the Norwegian border and smuggling etc and this struck me

“But one lesson from Norway is that even with the Nordic country’s close ties to the bloc, border checks are necessary. Cars entering Norway at Ørje are stopped and drivers asked for their destination and the purpose of their visit. The border post was recently extended and rebuilt with new barriers and cameras. Staffing has also been increased.”

Obviously I’m well aware in other areas ‘passport checks are rare ‘ but the whole issue is that passport checks at all , however rare are going to be a massive issue .

I’m not suggesting that Norway Isn’t worth looking at pete , you know or I hope you do , that I’m not trying to be obtuse but this isn’t easy .

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I know firstly it’s slightly different because they’re in the single market via the EEA but I’ve just been reading an article on the Norwegian border and smuggling etc and this struck me

“But one lesson from Norway is that even with the Nordic country’s close ties to the bloc, border checks are necessary. Cars entering Norway at Ørje are stopped and drivers asked for their destination and the purpose of their visit. The border post was recently extended and rebuilt with new barriers and cameras. Staffing has also been increased.”

Correct Harry.

The same trade expert that I cited above ruled out Norway as an option last month. I have linked the article below for ease of reference:

Redirect Notice

 

[Harryflashman]

Correct Harry.

The same trade expert that I cited above ruled out Norway as an option last month. I have linked the article below for ease of reference:

Redirect Notice

I did edit it and add a little more flesh to my point because I’m not going to pretend that cars and passports are routinely checked at every crossing because they aren’t but as I said above Ireland is a very different and frankly delicate situation and has to be viewed and treated as such . Let’s be honest it’s unique

 

[Armaghtoffee]

I did edit it and add a little more flesh to my point because I’m not going to pretend that cars and passports are routinely checked at every crossing because they aren’t but as I said above Ireland is a very different and frankly delicate situation and has to be viewed and treated as such . Let’s be honest it’s unique

Ireland is very different and even a single border check point would become very symbolic indeed. There is unfortunately no off the shelf model that can be lifted and applied here.