What happens re: Northern Ireland now?

[DaveGrohlsMuse]

Not right now, as I know nothing changes till next year, but as part of the Withdrawal Agreement?
The Backstop was such a massive sticking point for so long, what was decided in the end? And how will the plan affect the Good Friday Agreement? I've got to a point where I have no idea what's happening so it would be great if someone could explain it to me! (I'm in England,btw)

Thanks for starting this thread op, I've been wondering the same.
Also when do we need to start worrying about the motirways in Kent again? Or is that resolved?

Also when do we need to start worrying about the motirways in Kent again? Or is that resolved?

Postponed until the end of 2020.

I can't explain that bit as despite watching very, very closely I still haven't got a feckin clue.

I’m assuming it’s because you’re not supposed to have a clue because it makes no sense. As far as I can tell, most stuff going from GB to NI won’t need checks or tariffs as long as you can show that it’s not going to end up in the EU or end up as part of a product that ends up in the EU. Some products will need to be treated as products entering the EU regardless of where they will end up.

God knows how this is going to work. But that’s Boris’s issue to sort out.

JustonTime.

The CTA applies to UK and ROI citizens only. It has been in existence since way before either country's entrance to EU (since 1922) and will continue to apply post Brexit. Hence the immigration route that I mentioned.

There will be no visible border between ROI and NI so there we are. But don't forget, there are immigration checks between both jurisdictions, profiled I suspect.

Does the CTA (Common Travel Area) only apply to citizens of either the UK or Ireland though? It's not as if a Spaniard wanting to get to the UK, could go to Ireland, travel up to NI and then enter the UK from NI is it? I honestly thought it was only Irish citizens who could do that. Prepared to be corrected on that point though.

The CTA does only apply to British and Irish citizens. However, flights from Ireland are treated as domestic flights when arriving into British airports and you don’t generally have to show passports on arrival or prove your nationality. You don’t pass through border control. So no reason why a Spaniard couldn’t enter the U.K. that way, for example.

Think you're wrong on that point about the CTA chocolate. Google has brought up this

researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/CBP-7661

*The Common Travel Area is a special travel zone between the Republic of Ireland and the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. It dates back to the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. This briefing focuses on how the CTA operates between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Jump to full report >>
The Common Travel Area
Nationals of Common Travel Area (CTA) countries can travel freely within the CTA without being subject to passport controls. The arrangements for non-CTA nationals are more complex. Although there are minimal immigration checks for journeys started within the CTA, non-CTA nationals must have the relevant immigration permission for the country they are seeking to enter. Until the UK exits the EU, citizens of EEA member states have prevailing rights of entry and residence in the UK and Ireland under EU ‘free movement’ law.

Although both the Republic of Ireland and the UK maintain their own visa and immigration policies, there is a significant degree of practical cooperation and policy coordination in order to ensure the security of the CTA. Controls on the Irish border are also generally regarded as impractical and undesirable.

Irish nationals’ special status in UK law
Irish nationals have a special status in UK law which is separate to and pre-dates the rights they have as EU citizens.

In short, the Republic of Ireland is not considered to be a ‘foreign country’ for the purpose of UK laws, and Irish citizens are not considered to be ‘aliens’. Furthermore, Irish citizens are treated as if they have permanent immigration permission to remain in the UK from the date they take up ‘ordinary residence’ here.

This special status affects Irish nationals’ rights across a number of areas, including eligibility for British citizenship, eligibility to vote and stand for election, and eligibility for certain welfare benefits. It is thought that, as a result, Irish nationals have more rights than other EU/ EEA nationals resident in the UK.

The implications of Brexit
The UK and Irish Governments have confirmed that the Common Travel area will continue after Brexit, regardless of the type of UK exit. In May 2019 the two Governments signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on the CTA which guarantees there will be no changes to the rights of British citizens in Ireland/Irish citizens in the UK as a result of Brexit.

Irish citizens have been advised by the Home Office that they do not need to apply for settled or pre-settled status to secure their residence rights in the UK. However, non-Irish and non-British family members of Irish citizens residing in the UK under EU free movement law will need to apply for status under the EU settlement scheme. Both the UK and Irish governments have maintained they wish to avoid a "hard border” in Northern Ireland.

Professor Bernard Ryan of Leicester University questioned the extent to which the rights of Irish nationals in the UK are secured by existing law. He argued that new legislation will be required to protect Irish nationals’ status in the UK post-Brexit.[1] The Johnson Government announced a new Immigration Bill in the Queen’s Speech on 14 October 2019. The background briefing notes for the Queen’s Speech suggest that the Bill will contain provisions to “clarify the immigration status of Irish citizens…this means that Irish citizens will generally not require leave to enter or remain in the UK”.[2]*

You can't get that stuff in other EU countries as it gets stopped at the border.
Sorry but that is piffle.
You can buy Chinese crap online anywhere in the EU and it will be delivered.
It might get a customs charge on it, but that is the same as when stuff comes into the UK from outside the EU.

Thanks chocolate

I have never had a customs charge on anything I've ever ordered from the EU, China, the US. I'm in England.

Think you're wrong on that point about the CTA chocolate.

I'm not wrong. I've travelled backwards and forwards from the UK the Ireland my entire life. When you get on a ferry the only thing they check is your ticket. I've never had to show any form of ID when buying a ferry or a coach ticket. So the rules may only apply to Brits and the Irish but there are no checks to catch out people who aren't.

most stuff going from GB to NI won’t need checks or tariffs as long as you can show that it’s not going to end up in the EU or end up as part of a product that ends up in the EU
Pretty sure that is not the case.
NI is being treated as staying in the EU, mainland is out : so Holyhead, Pembroke etc are the EU border points.

Justontime
You are lucky. My address is marked - I get hit regularly.

Sorry but that is piffle.
You can buy Chinese crap online anywhere in the EU and it will be delivered.

No it isn't. We used to be able to. But the rules in my country changed a few years ago and now electrical goods do not arrive. You can still order it. But you won't get it.

Me too @Wheresmychocolate, but I certainly recall one journey bus/ferry, where we were all taken off the bus and had to show ID to customs officers. I vaguely recall our luggage being scanned too and they had sniffer dogs. That was at Holyhead on the way to Ireland. I had my driver's licence I think, but as it was an Irish one, I suppose it didn't matter. There was a French lady travelling who I had been friendly with on the bus journey and she had her passport with her. We all merrily got back on the bus and proceeded to the ferry. But there are certainly some checks.

Chocolate
Different postal services do different things and I'd be amazed if everything from China is getting stopped
its not an EU thing
its your country and electrical goods

What country are you in Chocolate? Kudos to you btw for knowing more about Ireland than I do as an Irish person!

Have you never flown to the U.K. from Ireland, Justontime?

@ListeningQuietly I used to buy loads of old tat from a company called EverythingFivePounds or something similarly luxuriously named. Everything was coming from China as you could track the various items online and it would show what port in China it had left etc.. Usually clothes and make-up crap though. Maybe that makes a difference.

Yes, I have AgileLass. Why do you ask?

It's my country enforcing EU rules. The UK doesn't They were fined £2 billion for not enforcing EU rules but I think Theresa May refused to pay it. Don't know what happened next.

JunstonTime There used to be security checks but that's not the same as immigration. They stopped when the Good Friday Agreement came into force.

Because you will have entered the U.K. as a domestic passenger, without passing through border control. Just like a Spaniard could, if they were flying from Dublin to Stansted for example.

What country are you in Chocolate? Kudos to you btw for knowing more about Ireland than I do as an Irish person!

I live in Sweden now but I'm Irish too.

Chocolate
It's my country enforcing EU rules
Which EU rules say you cannot trade with the rest of the world ?

To be honest I wouldn't know the difference. You just have to queue up and show your passport or ID. I recall both of us (myself and ex) flying Aer Lingus with just drivers licences and I got through no problem, but the customs guy questioned my ex saying he couldn't get in without a passport. Ex said - look - my girlfriend is travelling with just a driver's licence too and she hasn't been stopped and he was let through, but to be honest I probably wouldn't tell the difference between security and border control. I'm a bit dim like that lol. Not a terribly seasoned traveller.