Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have reportedly expressed their lack of confidence in the UK’s suggestion to use technology, such as surveillance cameras, to police a soft border post-Brexit.
This fear has been reiterated by Border Communities Against Brexit this morning, who stated that “cameras on soft or hard borders will escalate into Troubles and will put the Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement at risk.”
Speaking to Donegal Daily, Border Communities Against Brexit spokesperson JJ O’Hara has welcomed Minister Coveney’s adoption of the group’s suggestion that the border should be moved to the Irish Sea after Britain leaves the EU, due to the fear that changes to the land border will restrict movement for people traveling to and from Northern Ireland.
O’Hara also stated that any type of border would be detrimental to the peace process, and fears that “through time it will escalate to a hard border.”
The movement of the border to the Irish Sea would mean that customs checks would take place at airports and ports.
O’Hara explains; “This is the only answer. Special status or economy status for the North of Ireland or Northern Ireland within the EU.
“We as people need to stand above names of jurisdictions and come together as people on this island of Irish people. We are an island in a big world, we as people need to work together, whatever community, nationality or political party we are.
“Cameras on soft or hard borders will escalate into Troubles and will put the Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement at risk.
“This is real and real people’s voices need to be heard here.
“Let’s come together as people on one small island to work to a better island where we keep our freedom of movement, freedom of people, and peace between our people.
“We as Border Communities Against Brexit will meet any group, political party or person to discuss this idea.”
According to the Times newspaper, sources reported that Varadkar is fearful that the use of surveillance cameras, which are supported by Westminster, will hurt the peace process.
The DUP have taken a staunch position against Minister Coveney and Taoiseach Varadkar’s suggestion of having the border in the sea, saying it is “absurd and unconstitutional.”
DUP MP Ian Paisley says that two things will happen following the Irish Government’s suggestion; either “a very hard border” or “Ireland will wise up and leave the EU”.
Ireland’s Brexit concerns have reportedly been taken into account by the UK and the EU, with the protection of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement at the heart of these concerns.
The publication of the Government’s paper “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union” in May outlines that the maintenance of the Common Travel Area (CTA) is a key concern.
In turn, another primary concern is the need to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement is “fully respected and protected in the withdrawal process and that the gains of the peace process are preserved.”
“The CTA pre-dates Ireland and the UK joining the EU and is not dependent on EU membership. The CTA is particularly important in the context of the Northern Ireland Peace Process and relations on the island of Ireland. ”
The CTA facilitates those who commute across the border, making the recognition of “existing bilateral arrangements” in the EU Negotiation Guidelines vitally important.
Moreover, the Government have made it clear that there is to be no visible “hard” border, and that this will require “a political and not just a technical solution as well as recognition that the land border on the island represents a unique and unprecedented set of circumstances.”
Also made clear by the Government is the need to protect those in Northern Ireland who hold Irish (therefore EU) citizenship.
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