Emma Coffey’s views do not represent the FF party policy

Dear Editor,

EMMA Coffey’s views on a ‘ hard border’ are misconceived and do not represent party policy. A hard border effectively presupposes a hard Brexit, which would be a disaster for Ireland.

The Department of Finance reported earlier this year that it would cut our exports to the United Kingdom by 30%, add €20bn to the national debt and put 40,000 jobs at risk. We must avoid that at all costs. Fianna Fail is the Republican Party and our policy is to avoid a hard border with Northern Ireland which would simply reinforce partition, endanger the peace process and be hugely destructive culturally, socially and economically. People living in Louth and other border counties can rest assured on that score. We fully support any effective government and EU efforts to ensure there is no hard border.

Last week British Prime Minister Theresa May briefed the House of Commons on her weekend summit with EU leaders, and she said that there will not be any physical infrastructure at the border. We know the EU supports that view too, so this is very welcome.

Another major development is a pending agreement to retain the Common Travel Area, which will help to safeguard trade and free movement of persons across the border.

This is hugely important because Louth, as a border county, sees people go back and forth across the border daily to work and to get hospital treatment. We all personally know such people. Retaining the CTA will ensure that this traffic continues smoothly and that employment, social welfare and healthcare entitlements are respected post-Brexit.

I have full confidence in the integrity of our current border controls which do not need the dubious protections of a ‘ hard border’ to function effectively.