Any border control is a backward step says Fianna Fail TD

Fianna Fáil TD for Louth and East Meath Declan Breathnach has stated this week that people know that if there is any form of a return to a border whether technological or not is a backward step.

‘ Trade talks will start before the border is agreed and that is like putting the cart before the horse. The Irish Government have done a good job with the relationship they have built up with EU leaders who going by their utterances are on the side of Ireland. Theresa May will have to sign up to an agreement to secure an open border. I am disappointed that our Taoiseach has said it may be October now before an agreement is signed.’

‘So many aspects of trade between these islands will be negatively affected. Take agriculture, with milk travelling from South to North on multiple daily trips for processing. Take our fishing industry, any suggestion that Britain would take its waters back would be detrimental.

Our fishing industry, be it in Cogherhead, Annagassen, Kilkeel and beyond would suffer greatly. I was told recently that 64% of our mackerel catch comes out of British waters and 34% of our prawn catch.’

‘It is my belief that the UK will end up in an election situation if the DUP pulls the plug because of dissatisfaction over the border issue’.

‘We need to get clarification on the border as soon as possible. Theresa May and her party are still dodging this very important issue. They still want to have their cake and eat it too.’

‘It is paramount that the Good Friday Agreement, now in its 20th anniversary year is upheld in all its parts. We need to be able to bring all parties and none along with the idea of a unity of purpose, at least for now, not necessarily a unity of land’.