THE IRISH BORDER

This nonsense must stop now

The border between Northern Ireland and the Republic is a non issue. It is being used by the EU and by Remainer politicians purely as a political device to frustrate Brexit. It is also being used by the anti-British Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland for his own political ends.

Since before the Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org has repeatedly destroyed suggestions by the EU and by Remainer MPs and campaigners that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic necessitates the UK staying in the EU’s Customs Union, or in ‘a’ customs union, or anything like it.

We have done so with simple facts and with the evidence of experts and those involved in managing the border currently.

Despite all the facts available, the BBC, Sky News, and ITN continue to present this issue as though a solution either doesn’t exist or that it would take another 5 years to implement.

Very regrettably, once again we must summarise the evidence for the broadcasters, and others.

Videos, testimony, and papers

British Government Brexit Paper ‘Future Customs Arrangements’, Aug 2017: "The UK is currently implementing a new Customs Declaration Service (CDS)… This is a high priority project within Government and HMRC is on track to deliver by January 2019. CDS will be compliant with the EU’s Union Customs Code to ensure continuity for business and will provide modern, digital customs technology, which will ensure HMRC has the flexibility needed to deal with the outcome of the negotiations with the EU. The UK has accepted electronic declarations since the 1990s, reducing the need for paperwork and streamlining processes for business. CDS will build on this track-record by accommodating new digital functionality, providing businesses engaged in international trade with a robust, modern and flexible declarations service capable of dealing with our future trade with the EU and the rest of the world."

Jon Thompson, CEO Of HMRC, 2017 : "We do not believe we require any infrastructure between Northern Ireland and Ireland under any circumstances." - See our article with video evidence, in the Brexit Index.

Lars Karlsson, author of Eu Parliament Brexit Border/Customs Report, and former Director Of The World Customs Organization, speaking to the Exiting The Eu Committee in Mar 2018: "There would not need to be any necessary infrastructure and not need to be either CCTV cameras or number plate readers."

Question: “But the technology proposed in this report is untested, that’s correct isn’t it?” asked Joanna Cherry MP (SNP). “The proposal you’ve put here hasn’t actually been tested at any location anywhere in the world.”

Karlsson: “No that’s not correct. It actually has.”

The Rt Hon The Lord Lilley, Nov 2017: "We’ve put forward those proposals and we haven’t had any concrete response from [the EU or Irish government]."

"All they’ve done is leak third-rate tittle-tattle, from second-ranking diplomats." - See our article and watch the video, using our Brexit Index.

We suggest that the BBC reads the above, and then goes back over our last few years of output by subscribing to our Brexit Index.

Observations

It is a simple fact that proven solutions exist for the N.I. border. They do not require border posts, nor anything else that could remotely be described as being obtrusive. These solutions are agreed in principle by HMRC, by the Irish Revenue, and even by the special report commissioned by the EU Parliament in 2017.

It is also a simple fact that a border currently exists between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, despite the media talking as if it doesn’t exist. There are even CCTV cameras – as you might expect around any border anywhere in the world. This is because the Republic is a foreign country. Sinn Fein and the Republic’s government may not like that, but it’s a fact.

It’s also a fact that the UK government proposed a ‘maximum facilitation’ solution in August 2017, and has yet to have any detailed explanation from the Irish or from the EU of why this is unacceptable. The reason is because they can have no rational objections. It’s logical. All that is needed is for the two customs organisations on each side of the border to work out the details.

Instead the EU prefers to weaponise the border issue and deliberately to inflame the smouldering tensions which still exist in the province.

And this is from an EU which constantly pretends it has been a peace advocate and broker for the last 60 years. Quite shameful behaviour.

Note: Brexit Facts4EU.Org does not set out to report impartially. The enormous weight of bias against Brexit means that we focus on bringing fact-based articles to rebut the anti-Brexit bias of the BBC and others. If required, however, the team here would be perfectly capable of producing impartial output on Brexit, unlike the BBC.

Finally, if you value what we research and publish and if you want us to continue, we can only do so with your help.

Please donate using one of the methods below the comments.

31 Jan 2019

[ Sources : UK government (DExEU) | EU Parliament | UK Parliament | Irish Parliament | BBC ]

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

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Reader Comments 10

1. Jon, Wales , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 07:55:

An excellent article bringing together articles about the non-issue of the NI border. I recommend these matters are read and viewed. If an MP contradicts this information, I would suggest sending the URL of the article to them, asking them [respectfully] to read and explain?.
I urge all leave organisations who endorse Facts4EU together with their readers, to ensure their MPs and MEPs understand the information contained in this article. Word of mouth is also an excellent 'tool' as we pass information for the good of our country.

2. SibeliusFan , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 08:18:

The EU is telling the UK it's up to us to make workable suggestions as to how a "hard border" can be avoided.
The EU is telling the Irish Republic that even in the event of the UK leaving without a WA, the EU wishes to avoid a "hard border", so presumably they have ideas of their own.
"Disingenuous" would be the most charitable term. Bloody-minded would be another description.
Thank you for this excellent summary. I hereby give the pathetic BBC permission to use a bit of MY licence fee to subscribe to your Brexit Index: several of their "journalists" clearly need a bit of help.

3. Concerned Expat , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 08:53:

SibeliusFan, and it continues with more threats about the divorce bill being: payable after a no-deal exit; EU to sue the UK, and extra 6-7 billion on top.
The whole media machine with some notable exceptions is no longer trustworthy and has not been for a long time.
Unless we exit with no deal I fear the country is doomed.

4. Sydney Ashurst , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 10:08:

"Instead the EU prefers to weaponise the border issue and deliberately to inflame the smouldering tensions which still exist in the province."
How true. With both Governments saying they will not install Border checks the GFA is a red herring to cover the fact it will become an EU Customs Border.
The European Union “will have the obligation” to check goods travelling from Northern Ireland to the Republic in the event of a no-deal Brexit, EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said.
The EU have used their prerogative to write the terms of the WE, inserting the backstop to prevent the UK leaving cleanly.
I object to the backstop insisted on by the Paddy's. What can I do?
I do the shopping, and will not be buying any produce that comes from the Republic of Ireland. Anyone care to join me in sending the message.

5. JOHN FINN , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 10:45:

" I do the shopping, and will not be buying any produce that comes from the Republic of Ireland. Anyone care to join me in sending the message. "
This might be our only weapon now since I can't see parliament holding firm for long. I've been wondering if it might be useful to have a site which provided alternative suggestions to EU produce. For example, I enjoy a drop of brandy so I'd be interested in knowing where I can get brandy which comes from say, Australia. Apparently Tim Martin now stocks Australian brandy but I don't know who supplies him. A lot of stuff is pretty easy though. apart form a bit of broccoli, I haven't eaten anything from the EU for several months.

6. Chris , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 11:50:

Apparently, May has reneged on her promise to change the negotiating team, after just 12 hours! Instead, Robbins (who co-authored the WA along with Weyand) will be in charge again.
According to Leave.EU's update this morning, she has held a meeting with Corbyn and is now proposing full regulatory alignment with the EU (SM in all but name), and to replace the backstop with a full and permanent CU. This would be supported by Labour and the EU of course. Independent trade deals would then be impossible, and she will have achieved her objective of BRINO (thus satisfying the blackmail demands of Nissan).
It is clear that they have absolutely no idea of what they are about to trigger by this treachery. The yellow vest protests in France will be nothing compared to what will happen here.

7. barbara Jell , Thursday, January 31, 2019, 18:15:

Sibelius, the BBC does not need part of your licence fee - THEY ALREADY RECEIVE £25 MILLION POUNDS FROM THE EU!!

8. Paul A , Friday, February 01, 2019, 09:33:

The Irish 'backstop' is drivel and a distraction from the main issue which is that Treason May's so called 'Withdrawal Agreement' is no such thing...It is not Leaving at all. GO WTO!

9. Big Mach , Friday, February 01, 2019, 11:43:

You have missed out the statements from Messrs Cody, Irwin and Cullinan to the Irish Revenue service in May 2017. The Irish statements were laid out by facts4eu last year and can be found here:-
[SEE BELOW]
The Irish customs people said there would be no need for infrastructure at the border, even if there were no deal and to that end plans were being made to avoid checks at the border. Varadkar halted the planning, probably under orders from his masters in Brussels.
REPLY FROM THE BREXIT FACTS4EU.ORG TEAM : Big Mach we took out the link because we've re-published a summary of the two articles today. There are over 1,000 factual articles like this in our Brexit Index, which we hope people will support.

10. Not4EU, London , Friday, February 01, 2019, 12:45:

I'd just like anyone to explain these mysterious references to a 'hard border' or even better the 'a return to a hard border' claims. Just what exactly do they mean? The UK hasn't ever had a 'hard border' since the separation, i.e. never, and the only time it was closed was not by the UK but the Irish closing their border during the BSE crisis. We already have an operational border for currency, taxes VAT etc. What will be so different? We have a CTA, though if Ireland ever joins Schengen this should be withdrawn.
Is their scaremongering to conjure up images of when there was a 'militarised' border? That was solely to address the specific security threat. It wasn't a 'hard' border. The SAS, Paras etc. weren't there to check if people were smuggling red diesel, fags & livestock. The GFA was to prevent this threat & if the threat doesn't exist, there is no need for a military presence on the UK side.
The usual made up Project Fear nonsense.

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