Quote Originally Posted by DrPatrickBarry View Post
I remember reading an article a while ago, while there are 1000s of businesses trading across the border (this would include sole traders) there are less than 70 companies that trade between N.I and the UK. The value of those 70 companies would far exceed the value of the "Eire" trade. From a logistics point-of-view, it would be much simpier to have the border in the Irish Sea, but I perfectly understand why the DUP would never allow that. Hence we now are looking at a customs union for the whole of the UK.
Whatever the truth of those numbers, you ignore the politics. You cannot ignore the DUP however pragmatic you may consider it.

EU isdeliberately provoking unrest in the good friday agreement, by interfering with the autonomy of the UK which is none of their business. The EU approach is simple. Upset the unionists or upset the republicans.

Where the UK wants to adopt a technological solution which will cope with most of the problems, because NI also has few deep water ports or airports, so easy to determine origin at those of any substantive flow of goods.

Let us put the border between france and ireland, if EU think borders in seas are good. They should be happy with that.