Just read the thread and feel like crying at the ignorance of the OP and @lifecontinues.
You really don’t give a shit about your countrymen in NI do you? Nor have you bothered to educate yourselves about NI history and current affairs and it’s people. Incidentally a majority of whom still are unionist towards the UK. So basically NI is made up of almost half British and half Irish identities... so you can’t just give them the flick back to Dublin cos it suits your cause now.
OP asked for a quote from the GFA:
“SECURITY
- The participants note that the development of a peaceful environment on the basis of this agreement can and should mean a normalisation of security arrangements and practices.
- The British Government will make progress towards the objective of as early a return as possible to normal security arrangements in Northern Ireland, consistent with the level of threat and with a published overall strategy, dealing with:
(i) the reduction of the numbers and role of the Armed Forces deployed in Northern Ireland to levels compatible with a normal peaceful society;
(ii) the removal of security installations;
(iii) the removal of emergency powers in Northern Ireland; and
(iv) other measures appropriate to and compatible with a normal peaceful society.
- The Secretary of State will consult regularly on progress, and the
response to any continuing paramilitary activity, with the Irish Government and the political parties, as appropriate.
- The British Government will continue its consultation on firearms regulation and control on the basis of the document published on 2 April 1998.
- The Irish Government will initiate a wide-ranging review of the Offences Against the State Acts 1939-85 with a view to both reform and dispensing with those elements no longer required as circumstances permit.”
All of this right above... do you see it??? It means NO HARD BORDER. Just to spell it out to those ignorant folks who can’t be bothered to read any recent history when there is a wealth available online. The common travel area existed before the troubles and yet the army still set up checkpoints during the troubles ( therefore a border). Those checkpoints inflamed relations further. The Uk and Roi entered EU at same time so they have never separately had one in EU regulations and the other not.
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS would need protection from the British army all along the very detailed and intricate border. OP
@CatherineTheLate &
@LifeContinues are both welcome to apply for those customs jobs when they get advertised as sure as shit nobody in NI would want to work there for fear of being turned into a human bomb ...or having their family shot...and don’t sprout any rubbish about technology as we all know it doesn’t exist.
Another quote from the GFA:
(v) affirm that whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction there shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions and shall be founded on the principles of full respect for, and equality of, civil, political, social and cultural rights, of freedom from discrimination for all citizens, and of parity of esteem and of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos, and aspirations of both communities;
(vi) recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland.
This basically means ( and I voted for this agreement in 98) that if you identify as Irish you can freely live as Irish as best you can in a region attached to UK. Now think about it... if you work or live along the invisible border .. or use healthcare and schools on either side... (or hell just want to nip to your auntie in Donegal for a day trip) and that border suddenly has checkpoints or customs stops ...it’s not really living freely and having parity of esteem and having your cultural and social rights protected Now is it? Think about it and put it in the context of the PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY LIVE THERE for goodness sake. It is not equal treatment of their Irish identity. Having a free border is what the GFA was marketed on to those of us that voted for it.
And another quote:
(iii) acknowledge that while a substantial section of the people in Northern Ireland share the legitimate wish of a majority of the people of the island of Ireland for a united Ireland, the present wish of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, freely exercised and legitimate, is to maintain the Union and, accordingly, that Northern Ireland’s status as part of the United Kingdom reflects and relies upon that wish; and that it would be wrong to make any change in the status of Northern Ireland save with the consent of a majority of its people;”
This part means the majority currently wish to remain in UK and only the people of NI can consent to change this... not the English or welsh so keep your opinions about a united ireland to yourselves. It also means NI is a full part of the UK which is why you can’t then place your border in the Irish Sea ( as this infringes on the rights of the unionist people of NI to freely move and be equally part of the UK...not all unionists support DUP incidentally. Other unionist parties are available)
Now I get it this is all a huge 3 year inconvenience to Brexiteers but really i’d love to hear your suggestions as to how you can proceed without breaching at least one thing above. Be smarter and realise the GFA is not about what it says word for word...but what it means to peoples lives!
