Is there any way to avoid a hard Border in a no-deal Brexit?
If UK imports chlorine-washed chicken from US, what stops it entering Irish and EU markets without checks?
Close to the Border between Dundalk, Co. Louth and Newry, Co. Down. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Can a hard Border on the island of Ireland be avoided in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Probably not, is the answer. Just as the European Commission spokesman said on Tuesday.
The reason for the qualification is that there would technically be ways around it, but not ones which the governments involved – in Ireland, the UK and the rest of the EU – would be likely to all sign up to. So if there is a no-deal Brexit, some kind of checks and controls at the Irish Border look inevitable. Where there may be scope for discussions is how these would operate.