Brexit: Concerns Raised Over Lack Of Progress On Irish Border

Concerns have been raised by the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee over the lack of progress in finding a solution to the Irish border after Brexit.

In a report, the group of MPs, warned the government it may not have enough time to find a solution and implement it.

They called on the government to do more to explain the rules and technical measures.

The report said: "We have seen no evidence to suggest that, right now, an invisible border is possible."

It also ruled out any border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain: "This would create a costly barrier to trade with Northern Ireland's largest market and would be incompatible with the spirit and intent of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement."

Committee Chairman Dr Andrew Murrison said: “"t is now clear that a significant transition period is essential for the options in December’s Joint Report to be worked though. It is equally clear that regulatory and tariff alignment will be required during transition to avoid any hardening of the border before a definitive low-friction solution can be determined."

The report also included:

• Leaving the EU without a substantial agreement would have very negative consequences for avoiding a hard border.

• The government should set out in detail how it proposes to manage immigration through internal controls.

• Ministers should clarify how the Common Travel Area between the United Kingdom and Ireland protects the special status of British and Irish citizens in each other's countries and potentially create new legal guarantees.

SDLP Brexit Spokesperson Claire Hanna MLA said the report demonstrates the need for alignment with the European Single Market and Customs Union to avoid a hard Border.

She said: "The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has undertaken a significant body of work looking at the future of the border after Brexit. In spite of the Tory/DUP majority on the committee, it’s worthy of noting that they admit there is no technical solution anywhere in the world that would remove the need for physical infrastructure at the border.

"That is a stinging indictment of the current UK government's proposals to date which have been utterly threadbare.

"The report also notes the need for continued alignment with the rules of the European Single Market and Customs Union to prevent a hard border through a two-year implementation period, during which they suggest officials should continue working together to resolve the border challenge.

"But the solution is already contained in that proposition. Continued alignment with, or membership of, the Single Market and Customs Union eliminates the need for a hard border on the island. Expanding that alignment to Britain would also eliminate the need for a customs border in the Irish Sea. These are the solutions we have been proposing for almost two years."

(CD/MH)