Xmas joy as mum in visa dispute gets review hope
Varadkar’s plea to stop Troubles-era crossing
LEO Varadkar has said the UK should stay within the customs union to fully guarantee there will never be a need for a hard border in Ireland again.
The Taoiseach said he was “loathe” to speak of the prospect of a return to the bad old days in the event of a crash Brexit, adding the deal on the table makes sure there will be no need for one in any case.
But the Government announced this week contingency plans – such as the purchase of new lands beside ports for further customs checks buildings – are in the works.
Mr Varadkar said he does not want to have to implement these doomsday plans, adding: “The best way to avoid a hard border is to have a deal and there is a deal on the table and I hope Westminster and the European Parliament will be able to ratify it in the New Year.
“We will continue to work with our European partners and the UK and our European guarantees to give assurances and guarantees on that issue, obviously without reopening the withdrawal agreement.
“But we want to work with the UK and our EU partners to secure agreement of the withdrawal agreement, which of course not only guarantees there won’t be a hard border, it guarantees there will never be a hard border and that’s why it is such an important treaty.
“In the event of a no-deal Brexit, I am nearly always loathe to speculate because it is speculation and a lot of it raises more questions than I can give answers.
“But what is certain to me is in order to avoid a hard border you must have alignment on customs and regulations. Nobody wants it in Dublin, nobody wants it in Belfast, nobody wants it in Brussels or London.
“But if you don’t have alignment on customs and regulations then you get into real difficulties.
“If the UK crashed out of the European Union at the end of March they would still be aligned on customs and regulations. So the problem would only arise if they decided in some way to change their customs and regulations and that’s where it could get difficult.”
The UK Parliament will vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the middle of next month.
DUBLIN YESTERDAY
Rita in Paris and, inset, her high heel shoes Christina with family A YOUNG mum threatened with deportation from the North will have her visa application to stay reconsidered.
Christina Campbell is married to Co Derry man Adam and have one-yearold Olivia Rose together.
But because Americanborn Christina could not get a spousal visa to stay in the UK, she was ordered to leave on January 4.
But at 11am yesterday the couple got a call from the Home Office to say the 25-year-old’s application is being reconsidered.
Adam, who lives in East Belfast, told the Mirror: “We are in shock and delighted and tearful... but the first thing we wanted to do was let you know.
“Yesterday we were in absolute despair. Today we have absolute hope our family will not be pulled apart and Christina exiled to Spain.
“We don’t have the visa yet and there are no guarantees but we are hopeful.”
The Home Office will now reconsider the UK marriage visa Christina applied for in March.
It had been turned down without chance of appeal because Adam had not worked in the UK for six months.
A spokesman said: “We have explained to Mrs Campbell she will not need to leave the UK while her case is being reviewed.”
Best way to avoid hard border is to have a deal & there is one on table LEO VARADKAR