Mixed messages.

[AliasAggers]

Thanks folks for your posts on this subject.

You have supplied me with a lot of information on the subject of which I was quite unaware.

I can see now why this leaving the E.U. is such a difficult business regarding the border between north and south.

[Suff]

UK invades the EU. This one is mine. We then take over all the functions of the EU and create a single market. We sort of 'Remain' and simultaneously also 'Leave' and everyone is happy.

Why not? It is as good as all the other non-options.

Whilst it has a certain image to it, the only way we could invade the EU is to bomb all its cities into dust with our nuclear weapons and then roll over the remainder. Somehow I think that even Russia would have a bit of a problem with that...

I'm not saying we couldn't do the first part, we are perfectly capable. I just don't think we'd survive the aftermath.

Back to running the clock down and leaving with No Deal.

[Workingman]

Damn, I had an inkling there was a flaw in my plan, I just couldn't put my finger on it...

Ah well, back to headless chicken mode.

[Osc]

Aggers, why would Ireland want Northern Ireland? NI is almost totally reliant on Westminster and EU money, which would be one reason why a majority in NI voted remain. I am not sure that Ireland wants, let alone needs, such a financial drain on the country. Arlene Foster and her nasty ilk would never ever wish to be thought of as Irish. As for "getting rid of it" this was a situation created by Britain - I hope the information you now have has helped you know more about it.

[Workingman]

Osc, you will not be surprised to learn that I have followed quite a few online 'conversations' about Brexit and that some of the comments on Ireland and NI leave me agape.

The Republic should 'take back' NI, problem solved. It could leave the EU - Irexit - problem solved. It should make a free trade area with the UK and push the EU border to the Irish coast, problem solved! Ireland should become part of the UK! All problems with the border could be solved it only Ireland played fair!

The most amazing thing it that these people firmly believe that their ideas are actually workable, and that others agree with them!

[Suff]

Osc, the latest backward and forward between the UK, EU and Ireland has been illuminating.

Ireland has said there will be no hard border. The EU has said that there must be a deal or a hard border. The EU parliament has said that if Ireland does not close the border, then the EU will take over border security and close it themselves.

The EU, realising that taking over the NI border might have some consequences, then said that if there was a no deal and an open border, then the EU would be forced to create a border around Ireland and re-instate customs checks at the EU ports.

Interesting conundrum as the failure of the UK to reach a deal has some pretty damaging consequences for Ireland.

[Workingman]

The EU, realising that taking over the NI border might have some consequences, then said that if there was a no deal and an open border, then the EU would be forced to create a border around Ireland and re-instate customs checks at the EU ports.

Yes, but only for EU goods transiting Ireland to NI or onwards to the UK, the reverse would also be true. Goods destined only for Ireland or Irish goods for the EU would be treated as now.

What will not happen is that the current Irish coastal border will become a border between Ireland and the EU as EU treaties and rules do not allow for it.

There is already a border round Ireland for goods from the ROW, but not for EU goods, they can enter through any port. That will remain the case. There are similar borders on the Scottish Islands, and Orkney and Shetland, and Great Britain while the UK is part of the EU. EU goods pass through, ROW goods are checked.

If there is a no-deal Brexit the Ireland border will run inland from Muff to Warrenpoint and thus complete Ireland's border to third countries (the UK) and the ROW. On the NI side the border will become part of the UK's external border with the EU and the ROW.

[Suff]

Not what the EU were saying. Essentially they said hard border or be bordered from the EU.

In reality, the vast majority of EU bound goods transit the UK. Hard or soft border, Irish goods are going to have to transit a THIRD country to make it to the EU.

This is pragmatic reality and not the fairy stories being bandied about. That is what the backstop is all about. The EU trying to abuse the GFA to solve their own Brexit problems.

[Workingman]

The EU has not said "a hard border or be bordered from the EU."

On the contrary it has been firm on "Ireland first" and that it will not be cut off from the EU. Its stance is similar to the DUP's demand that NI is not bordered with the UK, hence the stalemate.

It is also not true that Ireland's goods will have to transit a third country, the UK, to enter the EU post Brexit. There is a thing called the Celtic Sea and Ireland and the EU have been looking at opening up direct trade routes between the two.

[cromwell]

This was a situation created by Britain.

Ah yes, Parson Carson and all that. "Ulster says no". "Ulster will fight and Ulster will be right".
The decision to partition has caused a lot of trouble down the years.

Why would Ireland want Northern Ireland? NI is almost totally reliant on Westminster and EU money, which would be one reason why a majority in NI voted remain. I am not sure that Ireland wants, let alone needs, such a financial drain on the country.

But if reunification ever becomes a strong possibility Osc, wouldn't it be politically nigh on impossible for any Irish government to turn it down? Regardless of the financial penalty?