Can someone explain the Irish backstop to me in very simple words?

[Apolloanddaphne]

I am an intelligent woman with multiple degrees but i have to confess i have no idea what the back stop is. I am too scared to ask my DH or my friends lest they think i am an imbecile (lighthearted). I have tried googling it to read articles about it but i just don't get it.

One of my friends is Irish and has a piece in a newspaper today related this today. If it comes up in conversation next time i see him i would at least like to be able to say something semi intelligent about it!

Help me please. Use easy words. Thanks.

And what form would this "revisiting" take @MysteryTripAgain ?. Bleating about soverin'y and "the [english] people have spoken

Revisit should have been when Article 50 was passed in 2009. A protocol could have been added to the GFA that described how to preserve the GFA in the event either ROI oe UK left the EU.

There are a lot of "should haves" in the whole Brexit debacle. Should have not held a referendum just so the Tories could see off Nigel Farage. Should have had a legally binding referendum so that illegalities would have deemed it null and void. Should have had an exit plan worked out so that people could vote on that. Should have not triggered article 50 before figuring out an exit plan. Should have not called a GE.

But the should haves get us nowhere.

There are a lot of "should haves" in the whole Brexit debacle

I agree with that.

My point is that the duties of the BIC (British Irish Council) are specified in he GFA and BIC was set up after GFA concluded. One of their duties is to assess whether or not EU policies will have any impact on North or South Ireland. Go through their website and there is very little said about the border. Even after the referendum result little said

Just another government department wasting taxpayers money.

It is ridiculous to say that an international treaty should have been renegotiated to take into account a possible future Brexit when even now we don’t know what form that Brexit will take.
I can just imagine “Dear Army Council of the IRA, please reform and consider you possible position in these 27 possible future Brexits. Dear Irish people please have a referendum to reconsider you constitutional position on NI in the event of these possible future scenarios.The ballot paper is 30 pages long. Etc etc

The GFA was very difficult to negotiate in the first pkace

Or you can just expect countries to leave the EU in a way that respects their other international obligations which is perfectly possible in the case of Brexit

Or you can just expect countries to leave the EU in a way that respects their other international obligations

Ah now here Inniu, that's just madness!

It is ridiculous to say that an international treaty should have been renegotiated

Not saying the entire agreement had to be revisited. A protocol could have been added to describe how to deal with borders if either ROI or UK chose to Leave the EU.

Or you can just expect countries to leave the EU in a way that respects their other international obligations which is perfectly possible in the case of Brexit

Brexit with a deal makes this possible, but not possible if UK leaves without a deal. If GFA is not amended before a no deal happens it becomes void as described in the Vienna convention as it places NI in the impossible position of having to follow EU laws, regulations and treaties that will all have lapsed in a no deal scenario.

You can’t just add a protocol without the agreement if all the parties and an agreement that covered all possible future Brexit or Irexit scenarios and was acceptable to all parties would be more difficult to negotiate than Brexit

@inniu

No deal has no different versions.

Protocol only necessary for a no deal departure. As if deal is made then border issue does not arise.

As if deal is made then border issue does not arise.

Pity the Tory Party and the party propping them up wouldn't sign up to their own deal.

Of course it would be possible to have a deal that would require a hard border. That is exactly what BJ says he wants, a deal with no backstop.

But that deal doesn't exist, Inniu. He can want it all he likes.

A protocol could have been added to the GFA that described how to preserve the GFA in the event either ROI oe UK left the EU.

Or Cameron could have noticed that Northern Ireland exists before calling a referendum.

Of course it would be possible to have a deal that would require a hard border

What deal has been proposed that would require a border?

@Apileofballyhoo

It is a theoretical possibility though if the EU gave the UK everything it wants and screwed itself and Ireland especially over in the process

Or Cameron could have noticed that Northern Ireland exists before calling a referendum

Better still the British Irish Council doing what the GFA says and take into account how changes in EU policy might affect North or South. Article 50 came into effect in 2009 which acknowledges that members might leave without a deal. If so all EU laws and treaties between the EU and the member that has left lapse instantly.

Another government department doing nothing at the taxpayers expense.

Another government department doing nothing at the taxpayers expense.

Why is the Prime Minister less culpable than a government department?he was also paid by the tax payer.

He allowed people to vote for a course of action without thinking through the consequences.

Why is the Prime Minister less culpable than a government department?he was also paid by the tax payer

Article 50 developed between 2002 and 2009. Cameron was not prime minister then.

He allowed people to vote for a course of action without thinking through the consequences

More accurate to say he assumed that remain would win easily. Therefore no need to make any plans or do any research.