Brexit

[Muddy Retriever]

And here we are confirming my above statement

How does it confirm it?

In the first year following the referendum vote Enda Kenny arranged for committees of Irish and British civil servants to discuss ensuring the border would run smoothly post Brexit. In May 2017 the head of Ireland's Revenue commissioners said he was practically 100% certain there would be no need for additional border infrastructure. HMRC confirmed this and an internationally renowned customs expert Hans Maesson called the border issue a fictitious problem.

When Varadkar came to power in 2017 he disbanded Kenny's committees. He became Brussels' useful idiot. They saw a way that the UK could be kept trapped in a customs union and hence we got the backstop. If we were to be released then the UK would have to come up with more and more concessions to placate the EU. If that is not so then how would you explain the comments of Macron last November when he said Britain would only be allowed out of the backstop arrangement if they granted EU fisherman access to British waters? How is that at all relevant to avoiding a hard border?

[DrPatrickBarry]

Where are the details of all these findings? That would be manna from Heaven to the ERG, why have they not been trumpting them?
Can you post links to the specific reports detailing exactly how two customs unions can exist on one island. And I don't mean bland statments along the lines of "ensuring the border would run smoothly post Brexit", I am looking for specific details here.

[Witton Park]

Where are the details of all these findings? That would be manna from Heaven to the ERG, why have they not been trumpting them?
Can you post links to the specific reports detailing exactly how two customs unions can exist on one island. And I don't mean bland statments along the lines of "ensuring the border would run smoothly post Brexit", I am looking for specific details here.

Patrick we are now on post 1413 (including this one) and you ask for links to these findings!!!!

Unbelievable.

Go back through the thread or google them.

Start by listening to HMRC Chief Exec John Thompson who said he could manage a No Deal scenario without any new border infrastructure.
He's outlined it on a number of occasions.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44230523

There are a host of people, and ERG have been trumpeting them. They have held press conferences outlining them.

[Muddy Retriever]

Where are the details of all these findings? That would be manna from Heaven to the ERG, why have they not been trumpting them?
Can you post links to the specific reports detailing exactly how two customs unions can exist on one island. And I don't mean bland statments along the lines of "ensuring the border would run smoothly post Brexit", I am looking for specific details here.

I've provided these links before before but happy to do it again. By the way, what's your answer to my Macron question?

Here is the article relating to Hans Maeeson. He is the ex president of the Dutch customs association. He is also an advisor to Go EU Commerce

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-46213434

Here is an article quoting Niall Cody, head of Ireland's Revenue Commissioners.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40042000

[Witton Park]

Its a bit like Groundhog day this, isnt it?? Same old issues to chew on with an occasional side shoot into something someone knows about like the education sector. I agree with a point earlier that the threat of a broken democratic process is greater than any short term economic issues.

Hubris is such a damaging characteristic which we can all be guilty of. But the hubris of rampant EU expansion is the most damaging of all and I think we should be proud of the fact that UK called the EU out on it. No matter what bit of it rankled with you....and there are too many cliched stereotypes thrown out by remainers, there were all symptoms of something that people felt but maybe could not articulate too clearly...the EU experiment had overstepped its mark, its purpose and its sense of restraint. Maastrict was the watershed and the poison has festered ever since. A bursting abscess is never a pretty sight....but the patient feels better afterwards!

It's no wonder is it though.

Let's have a FTA with the EU.

We can't.

Why not?

Irish border.

What about it?

Goods moving back and forth will need to be managed at the border.

If they do, why can't they be?

Belfast Agreement.

Where does the BA say anything about this?

It just does.

I don't think it does, but we don't need any more border infrastructure anyway.

You must have a hard border, the WTO insist on it.

Actually they don't. They insist on consistent treatment on a border crossing of the other WTO members except where a WTO registered agreement is in place and of course we would have a WTO registered FTA.

But the single market requires checks on standards - they cannot just allow goods to flow freely across the border from the UK without checks - it would compromise the standards of the Single Market.

Can you point me to where they check goods now for standards at the border?

No, but they do check animals, meat etc.

Yes but they check these items at different levels. As there is a recognition agreement with some countries only a small % are checked randomly as in most cases certification from the country of origin is accepted. Further, a provision can be made where any cross border movements must be made at (say) 4 crossing points and the lorry must report to inspection post for document check and if necessary a physical check away from the border, as happens in places like Sweden/Norway.
So we can have an FTA then

Actually no we can't.

Why not?

The Irish Border.

[DrPatrickBarry]

Yes you have posted them before and I have looked at them then and again now, but I don't see any details in any of those links. First I head of that comment by Macron. But I was not aware that he was a EU spokeman, with the sole authority to make specific demands on behalf of the EU, plus it is a load of crap and does not help the situation.

You have to be aware, that the Irish Authorities have to be vague/deny they have any plans in place, because if they start publishing specifics as to how it might work; it runs the risk of becoming a self fulfilling prophecy as brexiters will start saying they can live with those plans.

[Stagger]

Just build a wall, the good fellow said.

[Oracle]

Then let us hear a wholesale, unequivocal condemnation from you OF THE EU , that is, who are determined to upset the fine balance. They only have two approaches. Their present determination to have a border in the irish Sea, deliberately upsetting Unionists, and if we No deal it is THE EU that have said they will demand Varadkar builds a border, deliberately upsetting Rebublicansin the name of a largely symbolic red line they have on the single market. Eu simply don't care how much trouble they cause: they are deliberately alienating one or other.

Meanwhile the brexiteers say do the best we can with technology. No border is perfect, but that will get close. Eu refuse to consider it, because it does not suit their domination plan. So why do you always echo EU nonsense PR instead of study it? The only reason they want a backstop is to hamstring britain. The EU like Corbyn always was dishonest about ireland, sadly too many remainers fell for their rhetoric.

I suppose if you think women and children loosing their husbands and fathers is a price worth paying for "freedom", then the UK does not have to worry about treading on egg-shells.

[Witton Park]

Yes you have posted them before and I have looked at them then and again now, but I don't see any details in any of those links.

Then do what I (saddo) do and watch select committee hearings. You can still find them online from a few years ago.

If you did, you would see more detail and typically from people with more knowledge than some of the "pundits" we have inflicted on us.

[CL]

Where's Stolly gone? Is he hiding in his bunker? Anyway I've had some entertaining moments on the forum over the years. Things that made me chuckle for seconds, some for minutes and a few for days. In fact even today. Mr B and his car radio episode(sorry Mr B); the gold is king diversity is dead banter with The Heathens; Tindersticks and his twin at the Auld Lang Syne race a few years ago was hilarious and near the top of my great forum moments; the vitamin C thread; LongDog's shoplifting for whisky at Tesco's; But the greatest was Steve T's banter with Bob. Short, sharp and sweet. Put a smile on your face for years humour.



Oh and then there was Stolly and his tantrums!