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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-45719580

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
DUP 'won't accept' Brexit Irish Sea checks DUP 'won't accept' Brexit Irish Sea checks
(35 minutes later)
The DUP will not support a Brexit deal which could lead to any new checks on goods coming into NI from elsewhere in the UK, its leader has emphasised.The DUP will not support a Brexit deal which could lead to any new checks on goods coming into NI from elsewhere in the UK, its leader has emphasised.
"We cannot have either a customs border or a regulatory border down the Irish Sea," said Arlene Foster. "That would make us separate from the UK.""We cannot have either a customs border or a regulatory border down the Irish Sea," said Arlene Foster. "That would make us separate from the UK."
There has been speculation the UK could agree to regulatory checks at Irish Sea ports as part of a backstop deal.There has been speculation the UK could agree to regulatory checks at Irish Sea ports as part of a backstop deal.
Both sides have agreed the need for a backstop but not how it should operate.Both sides have agreed the need for a backstop but not how it should operate.
It would apply if the Irish border cannot be kept as frictionless as it is now in the context of a wider deal.It would apply if the Irish border cannot be kept as frictionless as it is now in the context of a wider deal.
The EU has proposed a backstop that would mean Northern Ireland staying in the EU customs union, large parts of the single market and the EU VAT system.The EU has proposed a backstop that would mean Northern Ireland staying in the EU customs union, large parts of the single market and the EU VAT system.
The UK government has rejected it as a threat to the integrity of the UK and suggested a backstop that would see the UK as a whole remaining aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time after 2020.The UK government has rejected it as a threat to the integrity of the UK and suggested a backstop that would see the UK as a whole remaining aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time after 2020.
It has not yet brought forward plans about how to deal with regulatory issues - EU single market rules on food, agriculture and other manufactured goods.It has not yet brought forward plans about how to deal with regulatory issues - EU single market rules on food, agriculture and other manufactured goods.
NI secretary Karen Bradley told the Conservative Party Conference the government would "never ever allow a border down the Irish Sea".NI secretary Karen Bradley told the Conservative Party Conference the government would "never ever allow a border down the Irish Sea".
What do 'checks in the Irish Sea' mean?
In a backstop situation, there could in theory be two types of Irish Sea checks:
The government has been adamant it would never accept Irish Sea customs checks.
But it has also been careful not to completely close down the prospect of regulatory checks.
Mrs Foster said her party would not accept customs or regulatory checks in the Irish Sea as a means of breaking the Brexit deadlock.Mrs Foster said her party would not accept customs or regulatory checks in the Irish Sea as a means of breaking the Brexit deadlock.
"It's been very clear all along that has been our one red line," she told Bloomberg. "That doesn't work from a constitutional perspective.""It's been very clear all along that has been our one red line," she told Bloomberg. "That doesn't work from a constitutional perspective."
In recent months the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has talked about "de-dramatising" the backstop.In recent months the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier has talked about "de-dramatising" the backstop.
It is understood he believes any new physical checks could be limited to food products coming into NI from the rest of the UK.It is understood he believes any new physical checks could be limited to food products coming into NI from the rest of the UK.
Arlene Foster said the Brexit process was reaching a "crunch time" and her party was speaking to the government on an ongoing basis.Arlene Foster said the Brexit process was reaching a "crunch time" and her party was speaking to the government on an ongoing basis.
Following the general election in June 2017, the DUP and Conservatives formed a confidence and supply deal.Following the general election in June 2017, the DUP and Conservatives formed a confidence and supply deal.
Theresa May relies on the DUP's 10 MPs' support to give her a majority in Parliament.Theresa May relies on the DUP's 10 MPs' support to give her a majority in Parliament.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on the Irish Government to "protect" the Good Friday Agreement saying Mrs Foster's comments were "reckless". The Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney said on Twitter that whilst he respected Arlene Foster, she was wrong.
The Good Friday agreement was "not a chip to be bargained with as part of the Tory-DUP deal", she said. The agreement provided for the most prolonged period of peace and stability in Northern Ireland's history and the Irish government would defend and protect it though Brexit, Mr Coveney said.
The 1998 tGood Friday Agreement saw the removal of security checkpoints from crossing points and helped make it an all but invisible divide - something which was relatively easy to achieve due to the UK and the Republic of Ireland's shared EU membership. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald had earlier called on the Irish Government to "protect" the Good Friday Agreement, saying Mrs Foster's comments that the peace deal was sacrosanct were "reckless".
The 1998 Good Friday Agreement saw the removal of security checkpoints from crossing points and helped make it an all but invisible divide - something which was relatively easy to achieve due to the UK and the Republic of Ireland's shared EU membership.
However, since the Brexit referendum, the Irish question has remained a serious point of contention.However, since the Brexit referendum, the Irish question has remained a serious point of contention.
Mrs McDonald reacted angrily after Mrs Foster suggested the terms of the agreement could be altered in efforts to strike an EU exit deal.
The Good Friday agreement was "not a chip to be bargained with as part of the Tory-DUP deal", she said.