The Scotsman

UK to rule out Irish checkpoint­s

● Government bid to avoid return to ‘border posts of the past’ ● EU says controls could be necessary for single market

- By NIGEL MORRIS newsdeskts_@scotsman.com

The government has ruled out introducin­g checkpoint­s or installing CCTV cameras on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit takes place.

In a new position paper, UK ministers will say today that their priority is to avoid a return to the “border posts of the past”. The UK will also dismiss the idea of effectivel­y shifting a customs border to the Irish Sea by introducin­g checks at ports and airports.

The government has ruled out introducin­g checkpoint­s or installing CCTV cameras on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit takes place.

Its top priority in talks over the future of the frontier is to avoid a return to the “border posts of the past”, it will declare today.

The EU has suggested new controls could be necessary to maintain the integrity of the European customs union and single market.

But businesses on either side of the 310-mile border have expressed fierce opposition to any imposition of checks.

The move would revive memories of the Troubles, when border crossings regularly became flashpoint­s for violence.

In a new position paper, the UK will also dismiss the idea of effectivel­y shifting a customs border to the Irish Sea by introducin­g checks at ports and airports.

It will argue that creating such a barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK was “not constituti­onally or economical­ly viable”.

Dublin welcomed the plans while warning that maintainin­g peace in Northern Ireland could not become a bargaining chip in Brexit negotiatio­ns.

The document argues that there might be no customs implicatio­ns at all for road and rail crossings if Britain and EU can clinch an ambitious postbrexit deal.

If an alternativ­e plan for “highly streamline­d” customs checks is implemente­d, more than 80 per cent of cross-border trade would still be unaffected.

The rest – involving bigger companies –would be covered by a special deal for “trusted traders”.

A government source said: “Both sides needs to show flexibilit­y and imaginatio­n when it comes to the border issue in Northern Ireland and that is exactly what our latest position paper will do.”

The source added: “We have some very clear principles. Top of our list is to agree up front no physical border infrastruc­ture – that would mean a return to the border posts of the past and is completely unacceptab­le to the UK.”

The paper will also reaffirm the UK’S commitment to maintain the Common Travel Area, which allows for free movement of UK and Irish citizens around the island.

It will also include a commitment to uphold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in “all its parts”.

There have been warnings that Brexit could undermine the Agreement as it was drawn up on the assumption that both the UK and Ireland were EU members.

The Irish government said the paper was “timely and helpful” as it offered more clarity.

A spokesman added: “Protecting the peace process is crucial and it must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiatio­ns.”

Labour MP Conor Mcginn of the Open Britain campaign group said: “These proposals on a light touch border are lighter still on detail.

“They don’t outline how a frictionle­ss or seamless border can be achieved when the UK leaves the EU and won’t reassure anybody about the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland.”

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman, said: “It’s clear the government can’t deliver on the Leave campaign’s promise that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland border will stay as open as it is now.

“Even if they only lead to checks on larger traders, these plans could still severely disrupt trade and have a destabilis­ing impact on the region as a whole.”

“Both sides needs to show flexibilit­y and imaginatio­n when it comes to the border issue in Northern Ireland”

GOVERNMENT SOURCE

 ??  ?? Brexit Secretary David Davis gave a series of media interviews on
Brexit Secretary David Davis gave a series of media interviews on

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