Irish border solution

[PerverseConverse]

Does anyone have one??

No matter how many times I go over brexit in my head, on here, with friends, in the news, on the internet, I can't figure out how on earth the Irish border issue is going to be resolved to anyone's satisfaction.

Is there a solution (other than no brexit?)

[somewhereovertherain]

It’s not an Irish border issue. It’s a british border issue.

Move the border to the sea. Problem solved trouble is who wants the basket case that is Northern Ireland. Not the Irish.

Brexit is just one large cluster fuck.

[PerverseConverse]

I'm confused about this existing border at sea business. Does that mean for example that if goods travelled by boat from the uk to the ROI then they would be subject to checks, but anything travelling over land from NI to ROI wouldn't?

[BigChocFrenzy]

Let the people of NI vote on whether they would accept checks in the Irish Sea

Polls strongly indicate they would - the DUP represents only a minority of the population, not the whole of even the unionists

[BigChocFrenzy]

If checks in the Irish Sea were made the standard process for UK exports to the RoI, then all legal businesses would use that route

there would be some smuggling across the NI land border (but there is now because of different VAT rates etc)
It's a small enough amount as a % to be acceptable, so no issue expected with WTO rules

[BigChocFrenzy]

i.e. no checks at the land border would be necessary

[Mistigri]

Perverse as I understand it the checks at the moment are sanitary ones, because if you are considering for eg plant health it's easier to control this on a whole island basis.

But a wider point is that the DUP are quite happy with having different rules versus Britain (eg abortion) and there is precedent for checks at ports rather than the land border.

They aren't really worried about sea border checks per se, but more about the slippery slope (as they see it - and tbh they are probably right) towards Irish reunification.

[bellinisurge]

I agree @Mistigri . But as Ireland had never been a unified independent nation, only part of it has, its Irish unification not re-unification.

[BWatchWatcher]

The majority of the NI people I have discussed this with like the backstop and indeed the smaller parties have been supporting it.
It puts NI in an extremely good position.
Wretched DUP.

[elizabethdraper]

We were a unified independent nation 800 years ago. So he's it is re-unific re-unificationation

[Auntiepatricia]

Forget the border! Let’s get those boats running again to get the tayto and good dairy milk over the border!

You’re welcome.

[PerverseConverse]

I ordered some of their dairy milk in the autumn. It's just as shit as ours.

[YeOldeTrout]

DUP refused to support the Good Friday Agreement. Only partner that refused. My mind still boggles over that. Explains a lot now, though. I have fury at Sinn Fein for not taking their seats in Westminster, though. People of NI voted for this polarised situation, though, brought it on themselves & rest of us.

[Auntiepatricia]

Perverse no way! I always clean out all the petrol stations from Tipp to the boarder if Turkish delight, mint crisp, golden crisp and caramello. Definitely better!

[Inniu]

A softer Brexit with the UK remaining in the customs union and single market removes the need for a hard border or a back stop

[Juells]

A softer Brexit with the UK remaining in the customs union and single market removes the need for a hard border or a back stop

I don't understand how that could be acceptable to the rest of the countries in the EU, though. Why bother being in the EU and conforming to its rules if you can leave and have all the benefits of being in the single market? Wouldn't everyone want the same deal? I've been amazed that the EU has been as accommodating as it has, rather than telling the UK to sling their hook

Saw this on fb this morning, gave me a laugh in an otherwise grim mood

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

It’s The British border in Ireland. Name it correctly please.

[PerverseConverse]

"The Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border, also known as the Irish border, runs for 499 km (310 mi)[1][2] from Lough Foyle in the north of Ireland to Carlingford Lough in the northeast, separating the Republic of Ireland from Northern Ireland." From wiki. Never heard it referred to as the British border. Do you have a solution to the situation?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

It’s a Brirish imposed border on the island of Ireland. Ireland never wanted a border.

[Juells]

I've only ever heard it referred to as 'the border'. Anyone can write pages on wikipedia.

It's probably known as 'the Irish border' in Britain because it's in Ireland. Do Welsh people talk about 'the Welsh border'? Scottish people about 'the Scottish border'?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

@ quoting Wikipedia on this!

[Inniu]

@juells Norway has access to the single market without being an EU member. The EU 27 have said this is an option for the UK. “Norway Plus” is single market membership with a customs union added.

The down side for the UK is having to accept some EU law without having a say on making it.

[Juells]

Norway has access to the single market without being an EU member. The EU 27 have said this is an option for the UK. “Norway Plus” is single market membership with a customs union added.

That sounds like a mighty good deal, maybe Ireland should apply for that if we get screwed over by the EU over the border. Not that I'm expecting that to happen.

I shop in Tesco, and I'm already noticing things out of stock - I'm buying a few extra things every week, things that come from the UK, and yesterday the whole shelf of Tesco Bio laundry liquid was empty. Either they're stockpiling in the UK and don't have the stock to sent to Irish shops, or people here are stockpiling already. Think it's time to change to Aldi.

[PerverseConverse]

Well, whatever you want to call it, what do you propose is done about it @ILoveMaxiBondi ? And have you considered contacting all the reporters and journalists to make sure they name it correctly?

[ILoveMaxiBondi]

My solution involves a time machine. GB government and later the DUPpers have fucked NI beyond a point at which they can reverse it. And yes, I have contacted journalists, I address it where I see it. What is your problem with naming it correctly?

[beanaseireann]

I still don't understand the backstop.


".......Arlene Foster risks (winning) a Nobel Peace Prize for her part in the reunification of Ireland...."
You are very bold PestymcPestFace


Switzerland and Norway aren't in the EU and they seem to be able to work it out.