Northern Ireland's future at risk without post-Brexit customs deal, says Hain

[GEMMA]

Well finally the cat is out of the bag regarding the "back stop" .like a bad Tommy Cooper illusion , the EU was Tommy and Varadkar and Coveny where their hapless hopeless assistance,s, wont be forgotten of forgiven. Roll on IREXIT, it is inevitable.

[HarryHippo]

Well finally the cat is out of the bag regarding the "back stop" .like a bad Tommy Cooper illusion , the EU was Tommy and Varadkar and Coveny where their hapless hopeless assistance,s, wont be forgotten of forgiven. Roll on IREXIT, it is inevitable.

Only a matter of time indeed . infact i have my IREXIT countdown clock clicking away as we   ...  laugh           

[jjmack]

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/dublins-nodeal-brexit-plans-expose-hard-border-myth-says-wilson-37650315.html

My Note: Nothing like the truth, to set one free. 

[jjmack]

http://email.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/T/v400000167d5cf4712b8326e163eab4f93/b1f17ec3d1b549080000021ef3a0bcc3/b1f17ec3-d1b5-4908-9b96-4ca89909ea44?__dU__=v0oQlZ2XmHtXiWefx_zBr6oSDOdDEyJMNBt1aaocywPHw=

My Note: Very interesting development by the Free State. 

[White dee]

Tick,,,tick,,,

 Ministers discussed possibility of Irish border poll in event of no-deal Brexit- reports[/size]https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ministers-discussed-possibility-of-irish-border-poll-in-event-of-nodeal-brexit-reports-37696467.html

[James James]

Tick,,,tick,,,

Ministers discussed possibility of Irish border poll in event of no-deal Brexit- reports
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/ministers-discussed-possibility-of-irish-border-poll-in-event-of-nodeal-brexit-reports-37696467.html 

Well WOW. !

"8th January 2019!
https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/constitution/northern-ireland-assembly/news/100958/ministers-discuss-prospect-break-uk-event

"Ministers discuss prospect of the break-up of the UK in the event of a no-deal Brexit"

"Senior ministers have discussed the prospect of the break-up of the United Kingdom if there is a no-deal Brexit, PoliticsHome has learned."



"Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley issued the stark warning at Tuesday's meeting of the Cabinet."

"She said that a so-called "border poll" on the reunification of Ireland was far more likely if the UK crashes out of the bloc without a withdrawal agreement."

"Meanwhile, Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell also told the meeting that the Cabinet should be braced for Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon calling for a second independence referendum in the event of a chaotic Brexit."

"He also said that a second EU referendum would lead to another poll north of the Border."

"Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, an Irish referendum can only be called by the Northern Ireland Secretary if there is evidence that a majority in Northern Ireland would support reunification."

"Ms Bradley told Cabinet that Northern Ireland would be the worst affected part of the UK if there is a no-deal Brexit."

"One Cabinet source said: "The view was that a border poll in Northern Ireland was all-but inevitable if there is a no-deal Brexit because Sinn Fein would demand it straight away."

"The Secretary of State would have no choice but to call one."

"Last November, a poll by RTE and the BBC showed that 62% of voters in Northern Ireland believed Brexit made a united Ireland more likely."

"The warnings came as a succession of Cabinet ministers told the Prime Minister that they would not stand for a no-deal Brexit if MPs reject the withdrawal agreement she has negotiated with the EU."

"Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd told her colleagues that "history will take a dim view of a Cabinet that presses ahead with no deal"."

"She added: "We have to face world in which we find it, not as we wish it to be and we have to deal with the facts as we find them."

"Meanwhile, Environment Secretary Michael Gove said MPs rejecting Mrs May's deal - which is due to be voted on by the Commons next Tuesday - were "like 50 year-olds at the end of the disco, who have turned down all other offers and are waiting for Scarlett Johansson to come along".

[James James]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46480704

"The Queen intervenes"

"With no apparent parliamentary majority for any single course of action - is it time to get the Queen involved ?"

[James James]

This was said back in November.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-46338344
"NI firms 'cannot cope with no-deal Brexit'"

"Northern Ireland businesses "simply cannot cope" with a no-deal Brexit, according to Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) director Angela McGowan."

"Ms McGowan told the BBC "no country in the world will want to invest in Northern Ireland if it is thrown out of Europe" without access to EU markets."

"She was among a delegation of Northern Ireland business leaders who meet the DUP over the EU withdrawal deal."

Of course though, Arlene played her Trump card,... and blamed the media. 

[James James]

"16 Jan 2019"
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/16/irish-pm-denies-secret-plan-introduce-brexit-border-checks-leo-varadkar

"Irish PM denies having secret no-deal Brexit plan for border checks"

"Leo Varadkar accused by opposition of keeping plans for Irish border from public"



"Ireland’s prime minister has denied having secret plans to introduce checks at the border with Northern Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit."

"Leo Varadkar was accused by the leader of Ireland’s opposition of keeping plans from voters after his deputy was overheard telling his transport minister he should avoid talking about checks on the border."

" “It seems there is a private understanding and knowledge of a border in the aftermath of a no-deal Brexit but at all costs that private understanding must not be shared with the public,” said the Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, during leaders’ questions in the Dáil."

"“It’s like the scene in Fawlty Towers: ‘Whatever you do don’t mention the war,’” added Martin, whose party is supporting Varadkar’s Fine Gael in a confidence and supply deal similar to Theresa May’s deal with the DUP."

"The row over border checks erupted after the transport minister, Shane Ross, told reporters at a press conference after May’s Commons defeat on Tuesday he “would anticipate that there would be checks” on lorries coming from Scotland to the Republic of Ireland via Northern Ireland."

"In an unguarded comment caught on microphone after the press conference, he asked Simon Coveney, the deputy prime minister, whether he should have made the remark."

"Coveney replied:...

“Yes, but we can’t get into where they’ll be at this stage. They could be in the sea, they could be … But once you start talking about checks anywhere near the border, people will start delving into that and all of a sudden we’ll be the government that reintroduced a physical border on the island of Ireland.” "

"Ross responded: “Yeah, but I didn’t know what to say.” "

"Coming under pressure during leaders’ questions, Varadkar said: “We are not planning for checks on the land border in Northern Ireland.” "

"All Coveney’s remarks proved, he said, is “that if you use the wrong words, or you say things in the wrong way, people will misinterpret that as meaning a secret plan and there is no such secret plan”."

etcetera,...



Even the Garda don't know which way to turn. !

[James James]

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/northern-ireland-drivers-may-need-green-card-to-travel-in-republic-warn-british-insurers-37721139.html

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/passport-checks-on-crossborder-trains-in-ireland-may-be-introduced-37720234.html

[James James]

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/brexit/brexit-unionists-and-nationalists-deeply-split-on-idea-of-second-referendum-37726490.html

[James James]

[jjmack]

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/brexit/eu-now-looks-set-to-ask-ireland-to-accept-concessions/ar-BBSCEgc

 

[James James]

"23/01/2019"
https://www.4ni.co.uk/northern-ireland-news/254973/border-backstop-is-the-brexit-solution-alliance
"Border Backstop Is The Brexit Solution-Alliance"

Quote,...

The Alliance Party has spoken out about the controversial backstop, which they believe is a pragmatic solution to the possibility of a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.

Stephen Farry MLA's comments come after the chief spokesperson of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas said it was "obvious" there would be a hard border on the island of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU without securing a deal.

The Brexit deadline remains set for 29 March 2019, while the backstop is a proposed insurance policy designed to keep Northern Ireland in the same customs territory as the EU in order to prevent checks on goods crossing the border.

The provision formed part of Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement which was rejected in Parliament by an overwhelming majority on Tuesday 15 January.

The Alliance Party deputy leader said Ms Schinas' comments should not come as a surprise to anyone.

"If Northern Ireland is part of a different customs space from the EU, then there is an inevitable need for the EU to respect the integrity of the single market."

"There are of course requirements the UK would have under WTO rules to police all of its borders equally under the non-discrimination principle between all its trading partners. To do otherwise would be a breach of international law and would further undermine the credibility of the UK."

Mr Farry continued: "Any new border on the island of Ireland should be unthinkable. The current problems and uncertainty arise from the decision of the UK to leave the EU and the government bears a particular responsibility to find a workable solution. The current backstop proposal achieves this and should be supported by all."

The backstop remains one of the key sticking points in Brexit negotiations, with the future of Northern Ireland's border with the Republic unclear.

It comes only days after a North/South body revealed that cross-border trade is at an "all time high", standing at £6.11 billion in 2017 after continually growing by 4% each year since 1998.

Aidan Gough of InterTrade Ireland said participating in cross-border exporting is making an "important contribution" to the performance of individual businesses, local rural economies, and the border economy on the island.

"Brexit will affect firms on both sides of the border," he added.

[James James]

"Jan 24, 2019"
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/the-history-of-the-irish-border-from-plantation-to-brexit-1.3769423