Forum Topic

Smart Border 2.0 ~ Possible Solution To Avoid The Dreaded Backstop

Has the Irish border issue been blown up out of all proportion for purely political reasons? Personally I think it has. Could this be an answer to the Irish border challenge? https://www.governmenteuropa.eu/smart-border-2-0-solving-border/91512/

Sue Hammond ● 2841d14 Comments

This solution **might** work,  but as Karlsson admits, it hasn't been tried anywhere in practice. The EU wouldn't gamble on its working, hence the backstop , which would be abandoned once a working mechanism had been proved to work. Until then,  it's no solution . And to say that the Irish border issue has been blown up out of all proportion is to display a remarkable ignorance of recent history.

Richard Carter ● 2841d

'The Irish border problem has been blown up out of proportion'You do love a wind up don't you Sue. Have you really forgotten the Troubles in Northern Ireland? It wasn't that long ago. There was a car bombing in Derry only a week recently to remind us.Still as long as the Right Wing ERG get their wish of a Brexit at all costs we'll be fine. No worries about the Irish.

Lucille Grant ● 2840d

@Richard CarterI am fully aware of the historic troubles on the island of Ireland thankyou. I actually said the subject is now being used for various political agendas which is actually risky imo. I am just looking at possible solutions and not constantly looking for the negatives like you. The trouble with you Richard is that you just can't stop yourself from sneering. Especially at people who have a different opinion than you over Brexit.

Sue Hammond ● 2840d

its ok Sue he'll be looking at the ladies in Mail on line for a little while.

Andy Pike ● 2840d

LOL!! 😺

Sue Hammond ● 2840d

I've seen this before, this is (I think) a more in-depth analysis: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2017/596828/IPOL_STU(2017)596828_EN.pdfIt could work but two issues:1. The UK's government's track record with developing IT systems probably defers Brexit 10 years.2. The "New IRA" would probably make a quick work of removing any infrastructure such as ANPR technology as that would still represents a virtual barrier within Ireland. Resolve those two issues and you have a solution... the other concern is that a smart border, as it relies on trust, isn't going to be effective against smuggling by the residue of criminal para military groups. When I was doing some work in Belfast 4-5 years ago one of the security consultants I was working alongside who'd previously served in Belfast and had family connections there suggested I check with him before wandering off just anywhere. I think we have to realise how recent the GFA is and how fragile the situation is.

Michael Ixer ● 2840d

Sue, the following link may answer some of your questions.  It is written by a Northern Irish journalist.https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jan/31/ireland-hard-border-brexit-backstop-good-friday-agreement#comment-125324287

Ivonne Holliday ● 2840d

'I think we have to realise how recent the GFA is and how fragile the situation is.'This, plus the fact that Ireland is an EU member country and their interests are going to be protected come what may (sorry for unintended pun)

Lucille Grant ● 2840d

Ivonne - it's the dreaded Guardian! But seriously a very good article.

Lucille Grant ● 2840d

Yes Lucille, it is.But the key of the article is that it is written by a Northern Irish person and it gives an insight on how they feel about the issue of the Irish Border and the GFA.I hope Sue will read it, even if it was published by The Guardian, because it explains very clearly what the situation is like there - as opposed to somebody writing an article in London.

Ivonne Holliday ● 2840d

Looks like the Irish border may not be the biggest problem if there's a no deal. Gibraltar looks like it will get messy as well, I expect Farage and Rees-Mogg will suggest sending a gunboat that the Royal Navy can't afford:https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fbrexit-news-latest-gibraltar-spain-british-colony-crown-travel-a8757926.html%3Famp%23referrer%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%26_tf%3DFrom%2520%25251%2524s&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cf9c907837a4645afb1ef08d6884c2617%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636846257961527936&sdata=l%2FrD707Z7vXID%2F77aSxbYVSMtEdLZHx7nUTtVgJazis%3D&reserved=0

Michael Ixer ● 2840d

Michael Howard had that bright idea ages ago and it was rightly rubbished from all sides.https://www.politicshome.com/news/europe/eu-policy-agenda/brexit/news/84781/jack-straw-blasts-michael-howard-absurd-jingoismThe Sun, meanwhile ran a piece entitled "Where is Gibraltar?".  Good to see they're on the ball.

Jonathan Callaway ● 2840d

A good article. Before the 2016 one bit of research I did was the Northern Ireland position and I do not believe a "true Brexit" allows compliance with the GFA. That's one of several reasons I voted to remain. Any agreement is a compromise of one or the other. Any compromise Brexit agreement is likely to be worse than remaining (rules without representation, as with Norway), any compromise of the GFA risks the peace in Ireland.

Michael Ixer ● 2840d

Michael it's a great shame that the Remain campaign didn't focus some of its time on this issue of the border between Northern and Southern Ireland but perhaps the Conservative Party doesn't much care for the Irish whichever side of the border they live in. It's now come back to bite them where it hurts. But then the Remain campaign was pretty rubbish at the best of times. The GFA should be upheld at all costs for both the Irish and British.Looks like Gibraltar is also causing problems.

Lucille Grant ● 2840d