Irish border question

The Irish border question is a controversy about the impact that Britain's withdrawal from the European Union will have on the Republic of Ireland–United Kingdom border on the island of Ireland, in particular the impact it may have on the economy and people of the island were customs or immigration checks to be put in place at the border. It was prioritised as one of the three most important areas to resolve in order to reach a Withdrawal Agreement.

The UK/Republic of Ireland border crosses this road at Killeen (near Newry), marked only by a speed limit in km/h. (Northern Ireland uses mph.)

The UK voted to leave the European Union in a referendum on 23 June 2016 which would effectively make the Republic of Ireland-Northern Ireland border an external EU border. All parties have stated that they want to avoid a hard border in Ireland particularly due to the sensitive nature of the border.

Background

Irish independence

In 1922 the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom while Northern Ireland chose to remain in the UK and the border between the two entities became an international frontier. Trade in goods and services across this frontier became subject to differing tax and tariff arrangements and an infrastructure of Customs posts was put in place at designated crossing areas. All traffic was subject to inspection by the jurisdiction it was passing in to. This could entail full vehicle searches with consequent delay and inconvenience. However passport checks were not applied as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland were part of the Common Travel Area.

A number of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements made goods checks less intrusive, the completion of the European Single Market in 1992 meant that checks on goods were phased out. However, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, there were British military checkpoints on main border crossings and UK security forces made the remaining crossings impassable. In 2005, in phase with implementation of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement , the last of the border checkpoints was removed.[1]

As of 2018, the UK and the Republic of Ireland are both members of the European Union, and therefore both are in the Customs Union and the Single Market, and will remain so until March 2019. There is freedom of movement for all EU nationals within the Common Travel Area between the UK and Northern Ireland and there are no customs or fixed immigration controls at the border.

Good Friday Agreement

Since about 2005 the border has been perceived as being invisible with little or no physical infrastructure, due to processes put in place by the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The Good Friday Agreement has the status of both an international treaty between the UK and Ireland as well as an agreement of the parties within Northern Ireland.

Following Brexit, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will become an external EU border.[2] It is feared that a "hard" border will return, with fewer, controlled, crossing posts and a customs infrastructure.[3] This would be a return to the position before both states joined the EU. Both the EU and the UK have agreed this would be a poor outcome to be avoided if possible.

George Mitchell, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, has warned that creating a border control system between Ireland and Northern Ireland could jeopardise the Good Friday Agreement.[4]

Positions on the Irish border

British Government position

The British government have said that Brexit will not mean a return of the hard border.[5] According to statements by Theresa May and Enda Kenny, it is intended to maintain this arrangement after the United Kingdom leaves the EU.[6]

In September 2016 the British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, David Davis, stated that the UK government would not seek a return to a "hard border" between the UK and Republic of Ireland.[7]

A joint plan to allow British immigration controls to be applied at Irish ports and airports[8] was abandoned[9] in March 2017 after meeting opposition from Irish political parties[10]

In its white paper on Brexit, the United Kingdom government reiterated its commitment to the Good Friday Agreement. With regard to Northern Ireland's status, it said that the UK Government's "clearly-stated preference is to retain Northern Ireland's current constitutional position: as part of the UK, but with strong links to Ireland".[11]

Reactions from Northern Irish parties

A Sinn Féin protest against a hard border. Post-Brexit border controls are a controversial issue.

There have been worries among Unionists that the Irish government's position is a covert attempt to gain more power over the province in order to eventually unite Northern Ireland with the Republic,[12] a position the Irish government has denied.[13] The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) opposes a hard Irish border,[14] and wishes to maintain the Common Travel Area.[15]

A referendum on the reunification of Ireland was suggested by NI Sinn Féin leader Martin McGuinness immediately after the UK EU referendum results were announced,[16] a stance reiterated by the new leader Mary Lou McDonald.[17]

A week after the referendum the then First Minister of Northern Ireland, the DUP's Arlene Foster and the Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness issued a joint letter where they said that the border must not become a catalyst for illegal activity or create an incentive for those who wish to undermine the peace process.[18]

Wider EU reaction

In April 2017 the European Council agreed that, in the event of Irish reunification, Northern Ireland could rejoin the EU.[19]

Joachim Pfeiffer, an influential MP for the governing German CDU party, believes border controls and customs checkpoints could be avoided, if United Kingdom were to perform some major concession such as to accept the four basic freedoms or to find a special solution for Northern Ireland,[20] but that Ireland would have the "hardest border" in the event of a No deal Brexit.[21]

Effect on the withdrawal negotiations

Importance of the Irish border

In the withdrawal negotiations the Irish border has been set as one of the three most important areas to resolve before moving to negotiations on the future economic relationship, along with British financial contributions to the EU and the rights of EU citizens in the UK.

The Irish and UK governments, as well as EU representatives, have stated that they do not wish for a hard border in Ireland, taking into account the historical and social "sensitivities" that permeate the island.[22]

EU's negotiating stance

Michel Barnier, the EU chief negotiator, has indicated that he would look to the United Kingdom and Ireland for "solutions" to threats posed to Ireland's trading links, the common travel area, and the Good Friday Agreement.[23] Denying UK media reports that Ireland expects the effective border to become the Irish Sea, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said that "the onus was on British officials to come up with an imaginative solution but [the Irish Government] would not support a proposal which would see a hard border return on Ireland".[24]

Backstop agreement

In order to keep a friction-less border, the European Union proposed a "backstop agreement" within the Withdrawal Agreement called the Northern Ireland Protocol. This would only come into force if there were no other solutions at the time, and it aimed to bring Northern Ireland under a range of EU rules in order to forestall the need for border checks.[25] Although the British government agreed with the principle of such a backstop at the December 2017 meeting,[26] it rejected the legal text prepared by Barnier's office because it created a legal and regulatory barrier between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.[26] The British side hopes to achieve an agreement that applies equally to Great Britain as well as Northern Ireland, thus avoiding any need for Northern Ireland in status autonomy independent United Kingdom in to be treated differently.[27]

Policy Areas

Common Travel Area

In 1922 the newly established Irish Free State entered into a Common Travel Area together with the United Kingdom. This meant that passport checks were not applied as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and predates the freedom of movement provisions arising from membership of the EU, which to some degree superseded it. In 2011, the British and Irish Governments agreed informally to continue their common controls on entry to the CTA [for non-EEA nationals].[28]

In September 2018, the British government guaranteed that free movement of EU citizens across the UK–Ireland border would continue.[29] It has been suggested that the Norwegian model might be used.[30] Along the Norway–Sweden border, major road crossings have customs control where all lorries are checked, but cars only occasionally, and on minor border crossings there is only video surveillance where lorries can pass with permission and pre-clearance.[31]

Customs and VAT

John Major has argued that Brexit might lead to a hard border since the European Union and the UK need to control their borders for customs purposes.[32] The European Research Group faction of the Conservative Party believes that the UK might have the choice between not controlling its border if VAT is not enforced, or controlling the border in order to apply possible VAT on imported goods post-brexit.[33][34]

Health issues

Cooperation exists between the UK and Ireland on health matters, including the mutual recognition of qualifications. The Northern Ireland branch of the British Medical Association warned that a hard border "could risk patient care".[35] The CEO of Cooperation and Working Together, a body that organises cross-border cooperation in health matters, suggested that the Norwegian model might be used.[35] Along the Norway–Sweden border and other Nordic borders there is some cooperation on ambulance and helicopter pickup and on child birth clinics and some more, but otherwise health care is separated.

References

  1. ↑ Aaron says:. "FactCheck: What are the options for the Irish border after Brexit? – Channel 4 News". Channel4.com. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  2. ↑ Smith, Evan (20 July 2016). "Brexit and the history of policing the Irish border". History & Policy. History & Policy. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Brexit: the unexpected threat to peace in Northern Ireland Nic Robertson, CNN, 6 April 2018
  4. ↑ George Mitchell: UK and Ireland need to realise what’s at stake in Brexit talks. Belfast Telegraph, 8 April 2018
  5. ↑ Lyons, Niamh (31 January 2017). "Brexit will not mean hard border, leaders vow". The Times, Ireland edition. Retrieved 29 April 2017. (Registration required (help)).
  6. ↑ "Britain does not want return to Northern Ireland border controls, says May". The Irish Times. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Brexit secretary: no return to 'hard' border in Ireland". The Guardian. London. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  8. ↑ "Irish Republic signals support for UK plan to avoid post-Brexit "hard border"". The Guardian. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  9. ↑ "UK officials at Irish ports ruled out". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  10. ↑ "Brexit: Ireland has no agreement with UK on use of Irish ports". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  11. ↑ HM Government The United Kingdom's exit from and new partnership with the European Union; Cm 9417, February 2017
  12. ↑ David Trimble: Ireland risks provoking (loyalist) paramilitaries over post-Brexit border. Henry McDonald, The Guardian (London), 6 April 2018
  13. ↑ Brexit threatens Good Friday agreement, Irish PM warns. David Smith, The Guardian {London), 14 March 2018
  14. ↑ Hughes, Laura (9 June 2017). "Who are the DUP and will they demand a soft Brexit to prop up the Tories?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  15. ↑ Syal, Rajeev (9 June 2017). "From climate denial to abortion: six DUP stances you should know about". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  16. ↑ Fenton, Siobhan (24 June 2016). "Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister calls for poll on united Ireland after Brexit". The Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  17. ↑ Irish reunification ‘on the table’, says Sinn Fein's new leader amid Brexit talks. France 24. Published 26 February 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Foster and McGuinness in Brexit talks call - BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
  19. ↑ Coyne, Ellen (29 April 2017). "EU approval 'brings united Ireland closer'". The Times, Ireland edition. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  20. ↑ Promises about no hard Border ‘illusory’, says Merkel ally,  – The Irish Times, 30 May 2017
  21. ↑ "Ireland will have 'hardest border in Europe' if UK doesn't reach Brexit deal, ally of Merkel warns". Independent.ie.
  22. ↑ Millar, Joey (31 March 2017). "EU pledges NO hard border in Ireland - but admits 'creative' solution needed". Daily Express. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  23. ↑ "EU sees our unique circumstances but the 'Irish question must be dealt with early in the talks'". Independent.ie. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  24. ↑ 'Onus on British to resolve Irish border issue for Brexit: Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Coveney  – Belfast Telegraph, 28 July 2017
  25. ↑ "Brexit: What is the 'backstop' agreement and why does it matter?". The Irish Times.
  26. 1 2 Henley, Jon (7 June 2018). "Brexit: what is the UK's backstop proposal?". The Guardian. London.
  27. ↑ "New backstop plan for Irish border will tie in whole of UK". The Times. London. 17 May 2018.
  28. ↑ "Ireland-UK Accord to Further Secure the Common Travel Area". Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service. The Joint Statement and the accompanying Memorandum of Understanding on visa data exchange was signed by Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter, T.D. and UK Immigration Minister, Damien Green, M.P., in Dublin today.
  29. ↑ "Major breakthrough in Irish strand of Brexit talks". The Irish Times. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  30. ↑ "The House of Lords voted for Theresa May to negotiate a Norway-style Brexit — here's what that means". nordic.businessinsider.com.
  31. ↑ "Trafiktillstånd för transporter mellan Sverige och Norge]" (in Swedish). Tullverket (Swedish customs). Retrieved 2018-07-04. Translation:"With a traffic permit, you as a carrier can pass a border crossing that does not have an open clearance expedition."
  32. ↑ O'Carroll, Lisa (10 May 2018). "Customs union only way to prevent hard border in Ireland, says Major". The Guardian. London.
  33. ↑ Micheal Burrage. "Regulatory divergence does not require a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic". Brexit Central. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  34. ↑ John Campbell. "Brexit Irish border: ERG report has more sober approach but problems remain". BBC News. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  35. 1 2 Brexit: Hard border 'could risk patient care' says BMA  – BBC, 2 June 2017
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