Leo Varadkar Warns Soldiers May Return To Border

The Irish Prime Minister has warned that troops may return to the border in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Leo Varadkar said armed posts could return after the UK leaves the EU, in the worst-case scenario.

He also said that Ireland had been "victimised" by the Brexit process while speaking to Bloomberg TV at the World Economic Forum.

At present, goods and services are exchanged between the two regions with few restrictions but Brexit threatens to plunge cross-border trade into disarray.

The deadline for the UK's withdrawal remains set for 29 March, however Parliament is yet to approve a deal.

Asked to describe what a hard border would look like if the outcome of Brexit was a worst-case, Mr Varadkar said: "It would involve customs posts, it would involve people in uniform and it may involve the need, for example, for cameras, physical infrastructure, possibly a police presence or army presence to back it up."

The Taoiseach's comments have been rubbished by the DUP, who said it is "deeply unhelpful nonsense".

MP for east L'Derry, Gregory Campbell said: "Whilst others focus on trying to move towards a sensible deal, the Irish Prime Minister needs to dial down the rhetoric and focus more on solutions."

It follows the Irish Government's publication of legislative plans for the growing possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

Mr Campbell said the information appears sensible and practical and called for a halt in "scare stories about fences, walls, violence and checkpoints".

"Why were genuine border communities fed a diet of doomsday scenarios about queues at the border, no more cross border trains, the lights going out?

"Those who peddled such stories should be ashamed of their tactics and for being so disrespectful to border communities."

The DUP MP continued: "The United Kingdom has committed to ensuring that there would be no return to the borders of the past and once again it is clear there are no plans from the Irish Government to implement a so-called 'hard border'. It's time everyone moved beyond the rhetoric to practical solutions that can offer the certainty people both north and south of the border want to see."



(JG/CM)