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FORMER BREXIT SECRETARY David Davis caused something of a stir at the weekend by saying people can buy drinks with pounds in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa with euros in Northern Ireland.
Davis made the comments while discussing the future of the border between the Republic and the North. He said the difficulty in resolving what will happen to the border after Britain leaves the EU has been exaggerated.
The claim:
People can buy alcohol in Dublin with pound sterling and vice versa with euros in Belfast.
The interview:
Speaking to Sky News programme Ridge on Sunday, the Conservative MP said: “I’m reasonably familiar with the Irish border, over the course of 20 years or so.
“There is already a border there, there’s a customs border, there’s a judicial border, there’s a currency border. Those borders all operate invisibly, the only way you can tell is the stripe in the middle of the road changes colour as you go over the border.”
Davis said the biggest issues with regard to the border are tax and smuggling, which could both be dealt with by authorities. He then added that it doesn’t matter which currency people carry in either jurisdiction.
“The people who are over-simplifying it are the Irish government and the Commission by saying, ‘Oh, you’ve got to have a sweeping political answer.’ There is no acceptable sweeping political answer.
What they have to do is look at the detail, the detail of tax on the border … It doesn’t matter whether you carry a euro or pound, you can buy your drinks in Belfast in euros and you can buy it in Dublin in pounds.
During the course of Brexit negotiations, several high-ranking politicians in the UK have shown a lack of knowledge or understanding of how things work in Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Davis’ comments, appearing to be made in that vein, sparked quite the reaction.
The evidence:
For the record, the official currency in the Republic of Ireland is the euro. The official currency in Northern Ireland is pound sterling (bear with us).
Some businesses that are popular with tourists do accept various currencies as payment but this is something decided by each individual company.
When asked about Davis’ comments, a spokesperson for the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said the organisation has “no official policy” on the matter.
“From observation some businesses close to the border accept payment in both currencies but it’s a localised occurrence. It’s for individual publicans to decide whether to accept sterling,” the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Fáilte Ireland said the tourism body has “no role in advising tourism businesses in relation to currency exchange as this would be a commercial matter for each individual business”.
Conclusion:
As many people have pointed out, one can’t use either currency interchangeably in both jurisdictions.
Fluctuating exchange rates and the general hassle of having to exchange the money means most businesses only accept the official currency of their country.
Some establishments (generally those close to the border or popular with tourists) do accept either currency. However, this is the exception rather than the norm.
With this in mind, we rate this claim MOSTLY FALSE.
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Yes my tutors insisted
Nice grounds to walk around on a good day. However, the Book of Kells, as important as it is, is a huge anticlimax for visitors who pay about 14 euro for a very limited view of it. I doubt it gets much repeat business.
@Kárl: lots of museums and tourists attractions have that problem, the Mona Lisa was disappointing AF but even if it was mind blowing I still wouldn’t have been bothered going back
@Kárl: I think the old library itself is actually much more impressive (though not worth €14)
@Karen Wellington: Got to see the Lady with an Ermine in Krakow a few years ago. It was in the Czartoryski museum, admission was for free or a just a few euros and the collection included the amazing Ottoman Turkish tents captured after the 1683 Battle of Vienna, everything looking like it was left behind by an army that retreated yesterday. None of this was behind glass, only a little rope barrier, an usher followed us around to make sure we didn’t don any of the Turkish armour.
We then went into the early renaissance paintings section, it all looked 2D and painted like an amateur, with weird fat baby Jesus. Then we turned a corner and there was the Lady with an Ermine. Looking real, 3D, glowing. It was especially startling after seeing it’s contemporaries.
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2011/12/05/arts/05LEONARDO/05LEONARDO-jumbo.jpg
@Kárl: Repeat business? Who’d want to see it more than once?
@Michael Lynch: they turn the pages every few weeks so you could visit a few times and see different portions of the book.
@David Jordan: thanks David, I’ll keep it in mind if I’m ever in the area
@Kárl: Power tip get a son in there as a student and pay fees, accomodation and as a student he gets you in for free. See I fooled them…
“planning to open up its campus with a series of new pedestrian entrances.”
They would want to be careful about creating new rights of way – the old area is nice as is, been that way for hundreds of years – be shame to have it turned into a shortcut for cyclists etc.
Should be in the National Museum and viewing should be for free
@Gerard O’Donovan: the whole university? Wouldn’t fit my man.
Grand little spot. Great down by the pav on a nice day. Ah the good old days when I wasn’t half as much of a di-ck as I am now!
Walked out of the accommodation many a Saturday morning IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
@Terrence Edwards: Fake News
Truly wonderful place to visit .
Should be in the National Museum and viewing should be for free.
It’s a university not a bloody park. Surely the staff and students should come first. Who cares if people who have no reason to go in there don’t go in there. They’re solving a non-existent problem.
Yes, went to college and got engaged there
Trinity College has the smallest cemetery, in Ireland, I’m still trying to find it. Then there’s the Zoological Museum (only €2 entrance fee), in the summer, an’ the Geology Dept.
@Claire Cahill: The cemetery is on the right side of the outside of the chapel in Front Square, towards the back. Walk down the ramp to the left of the Buttery and then up the few steps at the end of the ramp on the left. Look down and to your left and you’ll see the little cemetery. There’s not a lot to see, to be honest
@Greg Kane: I think two or three of the provosts from the 17th and 18th century are buried there
@Claire Cahill: I would love to find out if the rumour is true that there are/were tunnels under the college that anatomy students used to bring in bodies from the dame street area?
@Claire Cahill:
What about the Costello “church” in Carrick-0n-Shannon where only a husband & wife are buried?
Great buildings
Next week the journal will ask:
Have you ever been on a bus?
Have you ever eaten a banana?
Do you sweep the floor in your house?
Did you ever look at a seagull?
@Seamus ó Corcoráin: haha have you ever been on a bus ? Yes no or I’m not sure
The only reason non-students go into the Trinity grounds is to rob bicycles.
Yes. Went to college, got married, first child conceived there and graduated from there.
Only went there for a job interview, didn’t get the job…
Yes, went to college and got engaged there
Yes, went to college and got engaged there
Yes, went to college and got engaged there
Yes, some of my kids were fortunate enough to have gone to college there. I’ve been very lucky to have visited the college a number of times and seen the Book of Kells, something I have a great deal of interest in. I also couldn’t help myself taking the mickey out of some American tourists once, they were convinced I had some inside knowledge. Every time we turned a corner they seemed to be there, so in the end I… err… translated for them. I’m very sorry. I know, if there’s a hell I’m going.
Trinity has had a chequered 19c past when it excluded Catholics and perhaps should not have been supported post 1921.
@Moorooka Mick: hmmm I fail to see exactly what benefit there would have been “not supporting” the college post 1921 ….one that has a history with the likes of Oscar Wilde attending , that has been there hundreds of years and has a world class old library …,,over bigotry ??? And how we wouldn’t be just as guilty if we chose to be selective over what colleges to help grow the new independent country we chose to support ?? Your comment is quite baffling !
What’s the official Church stance on walking through college grounds? Maybe he likes to have a cup of tea in the evenings instead, Ted.
just for cans in the pav and a laugh at the toffes playing cricket!
Stayed in accomodation there a number of times over the summer months when up in the mock capitol while supporting Cork GAA. Cheap and cheerful, good breakfast and great location. I’m sure there is other good stuff in a university too but never got the chance to go to one:)
@AppleToes: Could you repeat that? I didn’t quite catch you the first time.
I went to Trinity and all I got was a lousy BSc.
The coffee is authentic in a couple of the canteens, but they never serve boxty with kippers. I think this may affect intellectual life there.
Stayed in accommodation there a number of times over the summer months in the 90s,00s when up in the mock capitol while supporting Cork hurlers/footballers. Cheap and cheerful, good breakfast and great location. I’m sure there is other good stuff in a university too but never got the chance to go to one:)
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