John. One of the big problems is that a lorry from the continent can land at Baile atha Claith (Dublin to you), drive unchecked into Ulster, bung the goods on another lorry from Belfast to Liverpool and not come under customs scrutiny and perhaps import taxes. Eq ually immigrants can get into Eire, walk unchecked over the border and unchecked get a ferry to England.eucsgmrc wrote: ↑Thu Dec 13, 2018 5:08 pm Teresa May's "deal" involves the idea of a frictionless border between Northern Ireland and (the Republic of) Ireland. That's a border between the European Customs Union and a territory outside the customs union. A lot of people (but not everyone who matters) seem to believe that a frictionless border is possible.
If you can have a frictionless border between the customs union and not-in-the-union, then
1. if it's truly frictionless, then what's the problem if it's an internal border within a state? (bear with me - I know why the DUP don't like the sound of that)
2. if it's possible at all, wouldn't it be easier if it's operated by the same state on both sides of the border?
So how about letting Scotland be on the Customs Union side of the border? Scotland voted to remain in the EU, and would be happy with free movement of people and so on.
Then Northern Ireland could be on the Customs Union side (which they also voted for in the referendum) without being treated differently from the rest of the UK. So, no change at all needed in the border arrangements between NI and Ireland.
The border is in fact very porous and also Irish law has some "interesting" features about identity. Remember that the vast vast majority of people in Ulster (including the DUP people) are actually citizens of the Republic of Ireland fully entitled to a Southern Ireland passport