Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has said the published Revenue Commissioner’s report on Customs requirements post-Brexit show why Donegal needs the north to remain in the EU and for the Irish Government to step up and campaign for this Special Status.
Deputy Doherty said 20% of cross-border traffic – 6 million journeys- comes through the three main Donegal crossing at Lifford, Burnfoot and Strabane.
He said Donegal more than any other county needs action to ensure that the north is not dragged out of the EU by the Tories.
The Report lists how excise duty, VAT and Customs Duties all become a far bigger , time consuming and expensive issue if the north leaves the EU.
The report is damning in smashing the myth about soft or frictionless borders. It states a” completely open border is not possible from a customs perspective” and “it is probably somewhat naïve to believe that a new and entirely unique arrangement can be negotiated and applied to the IE/UK land frontier.”
The report speaks about 8 designated crossings with customs infrastructure and even beyond this “a visible regime of mobile patrols and checkpoints will be required to monitor and control the remaining multitude of “unapproved” routes to deter and detect abuse. “
In other words the revenue Commissioners see no way to prevent a hard border unless the north is given Special Status. The Dáil has backed Sinn Féin’s call for Special Status but the government is ignoring that mandate.
All TDs especially Donegal TDs must now actively campaign for Special Status for the north. There can be no excuses about a so called soft or frictionless border.”
Tags: