This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-40941393

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Brexit: UK position paper opposes Irish border posts UK Brexit position paper opposes Irish border posts
(35 minutes later)
The government has said there must be an "unprecedented solution" for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.The government has said there must be an "unprecedented solution" for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit.
A position paper detailing its proposals stresses the need to avoid a hard border.A position paper detailing its proposals stresses the need to avoid a hard border.
The government says there should be no physical infrastructure, such as customs posts, at the border. The government stresses there should be no physical infrastructure, such as customs posts, at the border.
It also does not envisage CCTV cameras or number plate recognition technology at the border or set back from it. It also does not envisage CCTV cameras or number plate recognition technology at the border, or set back from it.
Instead, the government is arguing for a wide-ranging exemption under which small and medium-sized enterprises will not have to comply with any new customs tariffs. Instead, the government is arguing for a wide-ranging exemption under which small and medium-sized businesses will not have to comply with any new customs tariffs.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that will share a land border with an EU member state post-Brexit. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that will share a land border with an EU state post-Brexit.
The future management of that border is a highly sensitive issue and is one of three main priorities in UK-EU Brexit negotiations.The future management of that border is a highly sensitive issue and is one of three main priorities in UK-EU Brexit negotiations.
Northern Ireland Office officials say that 80% of firms in Northern Ireland are small or medium sized and they are engaged in local business not international trade. Northern Ireland Office officials say 80% of firms in Northern Ireland are small or medium sized and engaged in local business rather than international trade.
If the proposals are accepted, customs officials envisage using a mix of technology and physical checks to monitor the compliance of bigger businesses which are engaging in international trade. If the proposals are accepted, customs officials envisage using a mix of technology and physical checks to monitor the compliance of bigger businesses engaged in international trade.
Such firms might be required to declare their import and export businesses online at regular intervals. Such firms might be required to declare their import and export businesses online.
The government has repeated its desire to maintain the Common Travel Area and the rights of UK and Irish citizens, and to uphold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. The government has repeated its desire to maintain the Common Travel Area and the rights of UK and Irish citizens, and to uphold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, of which the UK is a co-guarantor.
Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to reassure nationalists living in Northern Ireland.Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to reassure nationalists living in Northern Ireland.
"No one voted to end the special ties between the UK and Ireland or to undermine the unique arrangements between Ireland and Northern Ireland which have underpinned the peace process and have been in place well before our membership of the EU," she said. "No one voted to end the special ties between the UK and Ireland, or to undermine the unique arrangements between Ireland and Northern Ireland which have underpinned the peace process and have been in place well before our membership of the EU," she said.
Brexit critics have complained that the UK's proposals lack credible detail on how that aim could be achieved. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said he broadly agreed with the position paper's "aspirational" principles.
Responding to the government paper, a spokeswoman for the European Commission said: "We must discuss how to maintain the Common Travel Area and protect, in all of its dimensions, the Good Friday Agreement - of which the UK is a co-guarantor. "They reflect a lot of the language that the Irish government has been using, actually, in terms of maintaining the status quo, frictionless borders," he said.
Brexit critics have complained the UK's proposals lack credible detail on how their aims could be achieved.
They say the re-introduction of a so-called "hard border" would severely damage the Northern Ireland peace process and have a negative economic impact.
A European Commission spokeswoman said: "We must discuss how to maintain the Common Travel Area and protect, in all of its dimensions, the Good Friday Agreement.
"It is essential that we have a political discussion on this before looking at technical solutions.""It is essential that we have a political discussion on this before looking at technical solutions."
Sea border dismissed
The position paper forms part of the government's negotiations with the European Union, ahead of the UK leaving the EU in March 2019.The position paper forms part of the government's negotiations with the European Union, ahead of the UK leaving the EU in March 2019.
As revealed on Tuesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wants a limited transition period to implement any new customs arrangements, including considerations relating to the "unique circumstances" of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.As revealed on Tuesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wants a limited transition period to implement any new customs arrangements, including considerations relating to the "unique circumstances" of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Both the UK and Irish governments have repeatedly stated their opposition to a hard border, but the situation is complicated as the UK intends to leave the EU's customs union.Both the UK and Irish governments have repeatedly stated their opposition to a hard border, but the situation is complicated as the UK intends to leave the EU's customs union.
The position paper sets out two "broad approaches" to future customs arrangements that the UK hopes will help to prevent physical customs posts along the Irish border.The position paper sets out two "broad approaches" to future customs arrangements that the UK hopes will help to prevent physical customs posts along the Irish border.
The suggestions are a "new customs partnership" or a "highly streamlined customs arrangement".The suggestions are a "new customs partnership" or a "highly streamlined customs arrangement".
The partnership model would "align" customs approaches between the UK and the EU, resulting in "no customs border at all between the UK and Ireland," the paper claims.The partnership model would "align" customs approaches between the UK and the EU, resulting in "no customs border at all between the UK and Ireland," the paper claims.
The paper suggests the second, "highly-streamlined" arrangement could include:The paper suggests the second, "highly-streamlined" arrangement could include:
The paper also dismisses the idea of a customs border in the Irish Sea, saying it would be economically and constitutionally unviable.The paper also dismisses the idea of a customs border in the Irish Sea, saying it would be economically and constitutionally unviable.
It recognises that all this needs to be negotiated with the EU, in the hope that the border between the EU and the UK will be as "seamless" as possible.It recognises that all this needs to be negotiated with the EU, in the hope that the border between the EU and the UK will be as "seamless" as possible.
Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said he did not accept that the EU would be unwilling to facilitate the government's proposals.Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said he did not accept that the EU would be unwilling to facilitate the government's proposals.
"If you look at what [EU chief negotiator] Michel Barnier has said and others within the EU, there is a recognition that there will need to be specific arrangements in relation to customs and other elements in terms of creating that frictionless border," he said. "If you look at what [EU chief negotiator] Michel Barnier has said... there is a recognition that there will need to be specific arrangements in relation to customs and other elements in terms of creating that frictionless border," he said.
"I think there is a shared objective that we have, that the EU has and the Irish government has, in finding that solution." "There is a shared objective that we have, that the EU has and the Irish government has, in finding that solution."
An Irish government spokesperson welcomed the position paper as "timely and helpful" as it offers more clarity on the UK's strategy.
However, they warned: "Protecting the peace process is crucial and it must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiations."
The spokesperson said leaders in Dublin would analyse the ideas in detail and discuss them with the European Commission and the EU's Mr Barnier.
Campaigners who oppose Brexit say the re-introduction of a so-called "hard border" would severely damage the Northern Ireland peace process and have a negative economic impact.
UK-Irish trade in numbersUK-Irish trade in numbers
Northern Ireland's former first minister DUP leader Arlene Foster said the position paper was a "constructive step". The Ulster Unionist Party welcomed the government's position paper, while Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said it was a "constructive step".
"It is clear the government has listened to voices in Belfast, Dublin, Brussels and London about how the United Kingdom's only EU land border could be managed after we exit the EU," she said. "It is clear the government has listened to voices in Belfast, Dublin, Brussels and London about how the United Kingdom's only EU land border could be managed after we exit the EU," said Mrs Foster, NI's former first minister.
However, Sinn Féin northern leader Michelle O'Neill said that Northern Ireland was "a fleeting concern for the British government, we are collateral damage". However, Sinn Féin northern leader Michelle O'Neill said Northern Ireland was "a fleeting concern for the British government, we are collateral damage".
She added: "What we need to see is the Irish government acting in the national interest and defending the rights of those people here in the north that voted to stay with the European Union." "What we need to see is the Irish government acting in the national interest and defending the rights of those people here in the north that voted to stay with the European Union," she said.
Labour MP Conor McGinn, who grew up in Northern Ireland, accused the government of "vagueness and posturing".Labour MP Conor McGinn, who grew up in Northern Ireland, accused the government of "vagueness and posturing".
"These proposals on a light touch border are lighter still on detail," he said. "These proposals on a light-touch border are lighter still on detail," he said.
"They don't outline how a frictionless or seamless border can be achieved when the UK leaves the EU and won't reassure anybody about the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland.""They don't outline how a frictionless or seamless border can be achieved when the UK leaves the EU and won't reassure anybody about the impact of Brexit on Northern Ireland."
Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the government seemed to be "effectively playing for more time".Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the government seemed to be "effectively playing for more time".
"The British government is still not ready, or at least unwilling, to publish serious or credible proposals on Brexit," he said.
The Ulster Unionist Party's Steve Aiken said: "The position of the government on achieving an as seamless as possible transition from the current European Union relationship between the UK and the Republic of Ireland is to be welcomed."
What is the customs union?What is the customs union?
Countries in the customs union do not impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods.Countries in the customs union do not impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods.
Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad.Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad.
So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee.So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee.
Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs.Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs.
The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries.The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries.