Border is a reality we must begin to accept

ONCE again, we are told by a senior figure within Irish public life that Brexit will not mean customs posts between the Republic and the North. This time it is Niall Cody, the head of the Revenue Commissioners, who is making the soothing noises, telling TDs he is ‘almost 100% certain’ there will be no new customs posts on the border.

Some people might think it is nice to have an optimist in charge of the Revenue: others, however, worry that we are once again falling victim to the same kind of wishful thinking which assured us there would be a ‘soft landing’ at the end of the Celtic Tiger boom.

After all, logic dictates that if Britain leaves the EU Customs Union – which British prime minister Theresa May has said before and has now reinforced as an electoral manifesto pledge – there will have to be a customs border between our two countries.

If there is a customs border, there will have to be the facility on either side of that border to stop vehicles and check that they are not smuggling.

Whatever can be done electronically or in advance, that simple function – the ability to stop and search vehicles – is a fundamental requirement of any customs border.

Moreover, if new hi-tech facilities for speedier customs controls are put in at key crossings, what will happen to all the minor crossing points?

If they are left open and unattended, they will become obvious smuggling routes; the alternative is either to have customs checks on them, or to close them down altogether (as was the case for decades during the last century).

Trains, and indeed the passengers on them, will also have to be subject to possible customs searches at the customs border – otherwise they will become the main smuggling route.

All of this is simple, factual logic. Moreover, it is a position backed up by the EU’s former head of customs, who has made it very clear that if Britain leaves the EU, there will have to be a customs border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The sooner we start accepting that reality, the sooner we can begin planning how to minimise its impact on our citizens.