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The Irish question

(530 Posts)
varian Sun 26-Nov-17 15:09:43

Some of us would like more than anything to remain in the EU, along with our Irish friends, but if we have to leave then at least we hope to remain in the single market and customs union.

If the extreme brexiteers have their way this will not happen. The Republic of Ireland will keep free movement of people, goods and services with the rest of the EU. We will not keep any of these freedoms, so what will happen at the Irish border?

jura2 Thu 30-Nov-17 14:24:41

80% of Ireland’s exports to the EU go through the UK because it’s cheaper and quicker than going direct to say France. So Ireland is well and truly scuppered if we crash out of the customs union.

paddyann Thu 30-Nov-17 15:01:09

so is Scotland ,our economy will nosedive ....but it seems we're not even thought of in all this .What ENGLAND wants ENGLAND gets and to hell with the rest of us ....nothing new

petra Thu 30-Nov-17 15:06:54

We are never going to stop illegal immigration by car or Lorry.
Most drugs come into the country by way of private boats into small boatyards along the channel and the east coast.

jura2 Thu 30-Nov-17 15:55:54

This is a very interesting article about exports from Eire to EU:

www.politico.eu/article/cargo-food-production-producers-brexit-burns-irelands-british-bridge-to-eu-markets/

Of course drugs and illegal immigation can't be ever stopped - but I can assure you that it is worth having a system that at least tries sad

jura2 Thu 30-Nov-17 15:56:06

This is a very interesting article about exports from Eire to EU:

www.politico.eu/article/cargo-food-production-producers-brexit-burns-irelands-british-bridge-to-eu-markets/

Of course drugs and illegal immigation can't be ever stopped - but I can assure you that it is worth having a system that at least tries sad

durhamjen Thu 30-Nov-17 16:00:00

It's a bit like saying we don't need to be in Europol because there will always be crooks.

NfkDumpling Thu 30-Nov-17 17:08:38

Would we not still be in Interpol?

NfkDumpling Thu 30-Nov-17 17:13:56

Paddyann - why will Scotland's economy nosedive? I live in a part of the country which everyone drives past and is ignored, so I am genuinely curious. Won't Glasgow benefit as they expect Liverpool to?
I have Scottish friends who voted out. But they live here.

jura2 Thu 30-Nov-17 18:32:24

Well could it be that, at the end of the day, the Irish question and the DUP will be the final straw ?

Wheniwasyourage Thu 30-Nov-17 18:54:49

For a start, NfkDumpling, we need more, not fewer, immigrants in Scotland - our demographics are not the same as yours in England - and are going to suffer from the lack of EU workers. We are also going to suffer all the economic problems that you are, of course. How exactly do you think that Glasgow will benefit? Assuming that Brexit actually happens, of course.

NfkDumpling Thu 30-Nov-17 21:44:19

Apparently (heard on Radio Four) Liverpool is looking forward to trade to the rest of the world. They suffer from everything going the other way to Europe. I would assume Glasgow would benefit in the same way.

So the Scottish problem is how to attract people from the south northwards - since the south east is sinking into the sea under the weight of the population! Do you have a lot of jobs vacant up there? (I haven’t been to Scotland for 43 years. I remember midges at Loch Lommond, loving Oban, the wonderful long views and going into a pub and nearly being chucked out as women weren’t allowed in!)

Tegan2 Thu 30-Nov-17 23:21:10

Is Liverpool no longer a port, then? Or Glasgow?

durhamjen Thu 30-Nov-17 23:37:29

When we voted to leave the EU, one of the main reasons was for control over our borders.
Now we are saying we don't want border control between the UK and the EU because it's in Ireland.
I'd really like a brexiteer to explain how we can do this.

ukandeu.ac.uk/brexit-and-immigration-control-in-northern-ireland/

Or had you all forgotten about Ireland?

NfkDumpling Fri 01-Dec-17 06:57:23

Did I say Liverpool and Glasgow weren't ports? I was just repeating what was said on the radio that Liverpool would benefit from extra trade. Therefore I assumed Glasgow would too.

If all the brains in power haven't come up with a solution to the Irish border problem yet Jen I don't think I stand a chance. And it's not up to me. It's up to the Irish. They could become united as one nation, they/we could put up a wall and they could do a whole lot of things in between. The longer it drags on the more options are being put on the table and the more the waters are being muddied. Can't think why unless the EU negotiators and Remainers are being obstructive, but that wouldn't happen, would it.

GracesGranMK2 Fri 01-Dec-17 08:57:23

Sorry, put this on the wrong thread so copied and pasted it over.

There seem to be three ways we could not have a physical boarder between Ireland and Northern Ireland and they are either the reunification of the two parts of the island of Ireland or the UK continues to be part of a single market and adheres to the free movement of people and goods or the EU relieves Ireland of the need to have a border into a third country.

Any solution would be have to contain something to satisfy these views.

durhamjen Fri 01-Dec-17 09:22:45

Exactly what I said, Nfk. Brexiteers didn't consider it important enough. They are finding out now that it is.
Not only that, it could this break up the United Kingdom and get us another election because the DUP will not support any of the options.
All because a few more people wanted to be more important in the world than they were before the referendum.
"We want control of our borders - but not that one, as we don't know what to do with it.."

durhamjen Fri 01-Dec-17 09:24:18

"Oh and we also want our southern border to stay in Calais, as otherwise it will cost us too much money and waste too much of our time. Apart from that, we want our borders back."

NfkDumpling Fri 01-Dec-17 09:56:46

I don’t think us Brexiteers considered that Ireland wasn’t important, I had wondered how it could have been sorted, but I assumed (wrongly) that as the Irish were now on better terms and they would be able to work it through. The fact is there is a provision for leaving the EU so it ought to be possible. With all the thousands of people working at EU head office, all those lawyers, surely there should be provision made? After all we’re not the only EU country with land borders!

durhamjen Fri 01-Dec-17 10:49:33

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dup-theresa-may-tory-deal-ireland-border-brexit-irish-border-northern-ireland-a8085046.html

No, but we are the only one wanting to leave the EU. It wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for Brexit. Even ardent Brexiteers must have realised that.
All you are trying to do is pass the buck to people who don't want us to leave.

trisher Fri 01-Dec-17 11:44:23

After all we’re not the only EU country with land borders!
No but borders between EU and Non-EU countries are "hard" borders and this wouldn't be acceptable, between Eire and N Ireland.

jura2 Fri 01-Dec-17 11:48:53

nfkD - Sinn Fein (reported by Reuters) are now seeing a real opportunity and pushing hard for NI to leave the UK and join up (eg be assimilated - story repeats itself) ... with Eire and remain in EU.

That will surely bring Peace and Love just in time for Christmas .... or not. I have relatives in NI, right on the border - they are very sensible and open, tolerant people - but would never agree to that. They live in NI but cross several times a week on business, sometimes several times a day.

trisher Fri 01-Dec-17 11:51:57

Usual opinion seems to be that Eire would not want unification anyway.

lemongrove Fri 01-Dec-17 11:53:59

Of course NI would never agree to leaving the UK, that goes without saying, surely.
If the EU gets enough money from us you can be sure that an answer will be found ( for everything) because it is all about the money from their point of view.
The government have said many times there will be no hatd borders.

lemongrove Fri 01-Dec-17 11:54:39

Hard borders.

durhamjen Fri 01-Dec-17 12:01:15

In which case they had better be ready for all the immigrants who want to move to the UK coming through Ireland rather than Calais.