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A disused customs point outside Dundalk. Niall Carson

What will happen to the Irish border if there's a Brexit?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

WITH BRITAIN SET to go to the polls next week on leaving the EU, much of the Irish focus has been on the border.

With Ireland’s only land border an already contentious issue, its use as a political football this week has vexed many.

Speaking in Northern Ireland two weeks ago, British Chancellor George Osborne said that the Warrenpoint ferry could become the subject of passport checks.

Just this week, in the last Prime Minister’s Questions before the vote, David Cameron reiterated that point.

He said that a leave vote would mean either a return to a land border between north and south or “some sort of checks” as people leave Belfast for the rest of the UK.

If we were to leave and, as the Leave campaigners want, make a big issue about our borders, then you’ve got a land border between Britain outside the European Union and the Republic of Ireland inside the European Union.

“Therefore you can only either have new border controls between the Republic and Northern Ireland, or you’d have to have some sort of checks on people as they left Belfast.”

Border argument

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The European Commission says it is not commenting as it does not want to campaign on either side, but Revenue in Ireland is investigating the practical implications – like how much reinstating the border checks would cost.

Locals in the border area fear that reinstatement of checks would be a deterrent to trade and travel.

Leave campaigners say the focus on the border is disingenuous and point out that the EU has a border with a non-EU country that is unpoliced between Sweden and Norway.

However, these are both Schengen Area countries, something neither Ireland nor the UK is.

A Foreign Office plan for the event of a Brexit is more clear on the issue.

Outside the EU’s Customs Union, it would be necessary to impose customs checks on the movement of goods across the border. Questions would also need to be answered about the Common Travel Area which covers the movement of people. This
could have an impact on cross-border co-operation and trade. The withdrawal of structural funds, which have helped address economic challenges, would also have an impact.

Of course, Ireland and Britain had a common travel area before either were in the EU and that arrangement has prevailed over the years.

A government spokesperson directed us to this FAQ, which contains the following:

“It is difficult to imagine a situation where there would be no controls or checks on the movement of goods if the UK left the EU. This would inevitably involve additional costs. There might conceivably also be British as well as EU measures.

“It should be noted that the customs régime between the EU and some other third countries does not, however, involve fixed border posts but a less disruptive mixture of electronic filing and random physical checks.”

Confusion

Sources familiar with the discussions between the UK and EU say that there is “a lot of work to do” on what the exit terms will be if the Leave camp wins on Thursday.

Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty provides for member states to leave the EU in accordance with their own constitution. However, it does not say how this would be handled.

In that way, the confusion remains over whether the EU would push the Irish government to enforce a border crossing with the north or whether Ireland’s government would resist such a plan.

Some in the Leave campaign worry that Brussels would impose punitive exit terms as a measure to dissuade other countries from leaving the union.

That, however, remains to be seen and would likely not be finalised until sometime this year, should the UK vote to leave this week.

Read: Enda’s off to Britain to ask them to stay in the EU

Read: Bob Geldof and his ‘we’re going to need a bigger boat’ battle with Brexit

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121 Comments
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    Mute Joan Needham
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:49 PM

    I let my 8yr old son take a day off school last year to spend it watching silage being cut. When I asked him what he was going to tell his teacher the next day, he told me he would tell him he spent the day doing work experience…I couldnt argue with that! I had to take the day off work as a paid holiday to sit with him watching the tractors going by. It was a great memory day for him and me.

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    Mute Paul Somers
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    Feb 11th 2016, 12:11 AM

    Next time approach a farmer, fairly sure he will let you help, farmers go unnoticed by so many.

    88
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    Mute Matt Donovan
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:38 PM

    That’s the kind of Dad I want to be with my daughter.

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:42 PM

    It would be really funny if it was convent with a mother superior type reading it.

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:43 PM

    Matt, if it was Ireland the kid wouldn’t have made it in at all as they would have all headed back to the residents bar in the hotel for a tipple afterwards.

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    Mute Anne O'Hara
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:39 PM

    The Boss does a show that’s worth the money and more. Fair play to Dad :-)

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    Mute tmwtbc
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:48 PM

    Friend of mine, not a fan until then, went to see him in Dublin around 2010 (open to correction). Met him in a bar for a few pints afterwards and he was absolutely blown away.

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    Mute nf
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:36 PM

    I wanna be that dad

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    Mute Johnneary
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:39 PM

    Bruce Shillingsteal.
    The Caviar Denim Whingebag.

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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:48 PM

    Been lucky enough to see the Boss play live, no-one does a show like him. Puts his heart and soul into every classic and is coolness personified. Isabelle will carry that buzz forever. Cool Dad.

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    Mute Papasmurf
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:52 PM

    Willie Nelson is known to keep going too at gigs.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:35 PM

    I gave my son the day off after going to see u2 because he called me to ask could he go on to the after party, first told him he would have to go in to school in the morning, then called him back 5 mins later to let him know he didn’t! Thease are special memories for them, allow them to enjoy them. As they say you only live once!! :-)

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    Mute margaret donohoe
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:47 PM

    Amazing dad fair play to him.

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    Mute Lad
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:41 PM

    Letter to work sorted..

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    Mute Tom
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:36 PM

    Smacks of over sharing, it would be nice if it was their own private experience rather than him claiming it publicly.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Feb 11th 2016, 2:03 AM

    They’re American. They have no concept of over sharing.

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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Feb 11th 2016, 1:31 AM

    Agh Benny & Tom would you both lighten up! This is about a father & daughter having a great evening out & his daughter having/making a memory that will stay with her all her life! X

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    Mute Jimmy Dunphy
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    Feb 11th 2016, 12:02 AM

    There’s going to be a whole lot of 12 year olds at the next Bruce Springsteen concerts

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    Mute gerry meagher
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    Feb 11th 2016, 1:45 AM

    Mine won’t go ‘dad rock’ ffs

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    Mute Benny Dorm
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    Feb 10th 2016, 10:56 PM

    Nothing spectacular.

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    Mute gerry meagher
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    Feb 10th 2016, 11:11 PM

    Greatest live act prices are a bit steep though although all acts seem to charge more here than rest of Europe citing extra costs logistics etc

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    Mute alpha_chaarlie
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    Feb 11th 2016, 10:18 AM

    Bruce Springsteen is a Langer

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    Mute Derek McEvoy
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    Feb 11th 2016, 8:09 AM

    Thats class, the same man didnt even know about Brian Healys stag in Manchester next weekend. Strange or what. Imagine he knew about the water charges

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