The Irish Times view on the risk of a hard Brexit: Dublin’s dilemma on the Border
There may be scope to negotiate how and where checks take place, but not the fact that they are needed
A ‘ No Border, No Brexit’ sticker is seen on a road sign in front of the peace statue entitled ‘Hands Across the Divide’ in Derry. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters
What happens with the Irish Border in the event of a no-deal Brexit? On one level, the comment by a European Commission spokesman that it was “pretty obvious” that border controls would be needed was little more than a reflection of what most people have thought. On another, however, the timing was interesting. Was it a slip, or was it a reminder from the commission of the vital interest it sees in protecting the EU’s single market?
The intervention from Brussels has led to much discomfort in Dublin, both publicly and privately. Senior Government figures have been playing with words, trying to protect their tactical position and to keep their options open in the event of a no-deal. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier also rowed in, saying that if there is a no-deal Brexit, the commission will work with Ireland and the UK to ensure the necessary controls and checks are made without putting a border back in place.