Tensions rise as Brexiteer MP says Ireland will ‘have to pay for any hard Border’
THE absence of a solution from the British government on the Northern Ireland Border is exacerbating tensions across the Irish Sea.
Leading Brexiteer and Labour MP Kate Hoey suggested the Irish State pays for a Border once the UK leaves the EU.
“We’re not going to be putting up a Border, so if they [Ireland] wish to have a Border they’ll have to pay for it,” she told the BBC yesterday.
“They’re the only ones talking about a Border. We can handle it electronically without a Border,” she said.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has repeatedly dismissed this idea.
He told an EU summit in Gothenburg earlier this month the Irish Government has a “profound difficulty in believing” there are high-tech solutions which can replace customs border checks.
Ms Hoey also suggested Ireland follows the UK out of the EU. “It might not be too long before the Irish public will be thinking of leaving as well,” she said.
Fine Gael Senator Neale Richmond, who also took part in the live discussion, accused Ms Hoey of being “delusional and ignorant” due to her “lack of knowledge” on Ireland.
Meanwhile, Britain’s position is that the Border issue won’t be resolved until trade talks with the EU are in place, a UK government source confirmed to the Irish Independent.
Britain’s Trade Secretary Liam Fox said at the weekend the UK “can’t get a final answer to the Irish question” until the second trade talks are complete. This is in spite of the fact the EU and UK agreed to come up with concrete assurances about avoiding a hard Border between the North and the Republic of Ireland before negotiations on trade commence.
“We want to avoid a physical infrastructure... (but) we’re not going to pretend everything will be concluded and finally wrapped up by December,” said the British source.
“Some of the things will only be finally concluded in the context of the future relationship, which the commission doesn’t want to be discussing at this stage,” they added.
The source also accused the EU and the Irish Government of a calculated intervention designed to push the UK into a position on Brexit.
A leaked paper on the Irish question outlining Ireland’s position, where it says it is “necessary” for Northern Ireland to maintain regulatory equivalence or remain in a customs arrangement, was seen as a provocative move.
“Clearly some cards are being played. The timing of certain leaks has been carefully chosen,” said the source.
The Irish Government faces a crucial EU summit on December 14 and 15, where Northern Ireland features as a high priority.
There are serious concerns the current Government instability will weaken Ireland’s standing at such an important juncture in Brexit negotiations.
However, the French ambassador to Ireland, Stéphane Crouzat, says France is “completely in line with the Irish” on the issue of ensuring there is a concrete declaration on avoiding a hard Border on the island on Ireland.
“We’re sticking to our position on this,” he told the Irish Independent.
“Should there be a caretaker Taoiseach... I am confident the EU 27 (will) make sure the three issues will be addressed whatever the internal issues of Ireland may be. The Irish can count on the solidarity of the EU 27, and France in particular.”