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Updated 6.15pm
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT is reportedly considering putting forward a proposal for a 16km-wide trade buffer zone along the border in Northern Ireland.
It doesn’t, however, have the backing of the DUP which is helping to prop up Theresa May’s minority government in Westminster.
The UK’s Sun newspaper reports Brexit Secretary David Davis is currently working on a new plan to break the deadlock in talks. The buffer zone, which would allow for trade between local traders like dairy farmers, is among these proposals.
His plan also reportedly proposes operating a regime of both European and British regulations so the North could trade freely with both, without the need for checkpoints.
In a statement this evening, DUP MP Sammy Wilson called the proposals “contradictory”.
He said: “These convoluted arrangements only arise because of the [UK] government’s failure to make it clear to the EU that regardless of Barnier and EU negotiators’ attempts to keep us in the Customs Union and the Single Market, we are leaving.
Instead of moving from one set of half-cooked ideas to the other it is now time for the government to put down its foot and make it clear to EU negotiators that the Prime Minister stands by her commitment that no deal is better than a bad deal and if they want to avoid the consequences then they need to stop dismissing the perfectly feasible ideas that were put forward in August of last year.
Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins had earlier told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that he didn’t believe the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) “would go for this”.
He questioned how workable the buffer zone would be and said he believes it is an attempt by the British government to “be seen to be bringing forward some kind of proposal” before the June deadline.
“I simply don’t think it’ll work,” he said.
Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson also described the proposal as an attempt to hide a hard border in a buffer zone. She said they do not take into account the reality of life along the border, particularly in areas such as Derry, Strabane and Newry which are essentially cross-border.
Once again this shows the lack of knowledge of border areas and the concerns they face – David Davis obviously didn’t learn much on his flying visits. The creation of a buffer zone would merely move the problem away from the border and hide a hard border in a buffer zone.
“The best way to protect trade, agriculture and the rights of people living in the north, as well as ensuring full protection for the Good Friday Agreement is for the north to remain in the customs union and single market and to have special status within the EU,” she said.
Across the Irish Sea, opposition politicians in the House of Commons have been scathing of the plan.
Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesperson Tom Brake said the Conservative plans are sounding like “something out of Alice in Wonderland” while Labour’s Chris Leslie called the plans “both dangerous and impractical”.
With reporting from Sean Murray
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20,000 british troops, the Irish army, the RUC and the Gardai couldn’t secure the old narrow border, best of look trying to oversee a 16km wide buffer.
@The Risen:
Agreed, and during all that time a majority on one side wanted to see it closed which is not the case anymore.
People can argue who wants to close it, the brexiteers try to blame the EU, either way, without local support neither could manage it.
Think they are mixing Ireland up with Korea. Buffer Zone what a stupid idea.
@The Risen: I would support a 150km north side joint sovereignty zone,
@The Risen: It’s a model for smuggling. and there’s nothing they can do about it.
@The Risen: Humpty dumpty is cracked, unfortunately.
A buffer zone!
Have any of these clowns actually seen our ‘border’ …… pictures even?
@Michael Kavanagh: it’s simple you draw the border with a 6B pencil, then rub vigorously with your pointer finger … ta da … no hard border. Silly locals.
Adds a new meaning to fuzzy logic.
Sounds like Korean demilitarized zone.
Crazy. Can’t believe these clowns ruled us for so long.
@Niallers: rye6 did because we were bigger clowns
The DUP are holding the Tories to ransom. Why is it that a party who only secured 28% of the vote in the last elections is going to determine the future of this island, even when their wishes are fundamentally against the wishes of the majority of the people in the north and will ultimately harm the economy in the north for generations to come?
According to the Irish Times, Davis is creating a Brexit plan that would give Northern Ireland joint UK and European Union status, which seems more significant.
The ‘buffer zone’ idea may be an attempt to sweeten this pill for Unionists.
@Brendan O’Brien: The UK govt needs to exert its authority over the Unionists like the DUP and not to be held to ransom.
@Brendan O’Brien: “give Northern Ireland joint UK and European Union status” Hmmmm never mind the DUP …… If they go with this can you imagine the reaction in Scotland.
They might as well start the negotiations for Scotland to secede from the Union.
The brits have to be seen to be doing something,but like jones in dads army ,whatever you do dont panic ,pure light entertainment at its best .
It’s all very well sitting in a office making plans. But in reality things are very different.
Simple answer for PM May is just ask the Queen if its ok to give the Irish back their 6 counties. The Queen is our “friend” now so she won’t mind. Just promise her an oul fish from the English market and she will be fine. Simple answer for a simple problem. Let the D.U.P. say and do what they like. If they aint happy let them take it out with the one they are “LOYAL” to and then maybe they will also visit and have a fish!
Think of all of the army barracks we stripped out of the border region and then downsized from 18000 soldiers to 9000 over the last 20 odd years – hmmmmm not such a good idea in hindsight.
@ross mcgee: what do we need so many soldiers for? Is there snow on the footpaths where you live?
@ross mcgee:
Do you mean we still have 9000 soldiers!!!
@Robin Pickering: don’t you be so dismissive. When we needed soldiers to stand between us and anarchy they were there. Would you prefer a return to violence so that the need to maintain a standing army appears justified to you? Try being thoughtful rather than a smart Alec
@Robin Pickering:
The soldiers are there to keep a certain class of people in their place.
Can just see the giant car boot sale it could potentially turn into. An international buffer zone for fake, stolen and illegal goods. Good luck with that bright idea
These people ie the UK Govt are idiots. Buffer zones never work. They rely on conformist law abiding people. The NI border? This would simply lead to a zone where people game the system and distort trade. This is exactly why hard borders exist. The UK Govt is chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Farcical.
@John R:
Ok, john.
I guess you want a hard border.
A brilliant idea except for the width. Make it a 100 Km wide zone and everybody is happy. Genius. All in favour say Aye.
There will be no.. I repeat no border on this island of ireland absolutely preposterous… A border between Cornwall and Devon….? No border of any kind in sovereign Ireland
@All Holey:
Joint status might be the best option of all the bad ones if they’re determined to push hard Brexit.
@Crom Cruach: …..can’t …… stop …… laughing……!!!!!
We cannot drag the unionists into the light, they are called unionists for a reason, they have to feel that there is a better opportunity, both financial, cultural and diplomatically in embracing an all Ireland model, it’s up to the UK and the E U to create an atmosphere and society that welcomes their tradition and history and sits with how we feel in the south?
A buffer zone was proposed for the Irish sea . That was rejected . Why would a 10km buffer zone out From the border be any different.
Foster and Co won’t accept that because a part of the UK would be treated differently from the rest of the UK .
They can consider it all the want…hairbrains … honestly… is there no end to this.
This isn’t North Korea!!!
Simple answer for PM May is just ask the Queen if its ok to give the Irish back their 6 counties. The Queen is our “friend” now so she won’t mind. Just promise her an oul fish from the English market and she will be fine. Simple answer for a simple problem. Let the D.U.P. say and do what they like. If they aint happy let them take it out with the one they are “LOYAL” to and then maybe they will also visit and have a fish!
Yummy a buffet zone with vol au vonts , chicken drummers , egg mayo etc… what’s not to like ?
So, the Gift, south of the Wall… Sounds more like the geography of Westeros. Abandoned holdfasts where no one cared to live.
no man’s land, good luck
No EU compromise.
No deal.
No cash.
Hard border.
Singapore?
The Greatest Clusterf**k imaginable, really don’t see Westminster holding onto the Wee province for much longer. The
Is this what John Bercow cries in the House Of Commons when things get out of hand? “Border! Border!” Not to worry, perhaps all we’ll get will be a “Bluffer zone.”
Idiot. Knows nothing about Ireland!
The comments posted here illustrate very effectively why no Unionist would want anything to do with a united Ireland under Dublin rule.
@Padraic Reid: The parliament is in Dublin but the rule is off the people. Sammy Wilson ans co have never been any way helpful towards building a dialogue. We changed the constitution to respect the unionist tradition and rights. What more do you want. Go back into the union would that be better
The uk govt is trying verd hard to avoid a border.
The eu and the irish press rubbish every proposal that is made.
I guess a hard border is inevitable. I am very disappointed that ireland lacks the spine to stand up to the eu.
@Martin Lintzgy: hahahahahahaha! Poor British government and evil EU…
@Martin Lintzgy:
A hard border will mean the UK will have the legal and regulatory status of Zimbabwe….in 43 weeks. 750 agreements that the UK needs to function gone…drivers and pilots licences invalid…no internationally recognized safety standards etc etc. No valid UK drivers licences …who will drive the lorries that provides half the UK’s food?
https://ec.europa.eu/info/brexit/brexit-preparedness_en
If there is a hard border in Ireland you had better get the marmite out coz 65 million people will be on a diet.
@Martin Lintzgy: There is always one and thats you. UK is right EU is bad and we should be thankful for all the British Parliament have done for us.
How about calling it ‘The Joe Dolan Heights’.
more like a BLUFFER zone!!!
What about just moving the border half way through each northern county, halfway through Derry and Newry thereby making Northern Ireland smaller and the Republic bigger. Its the only sollution with Conservatives, because thats basically only worried about themselves these days. They dont like Europe, dont care about the Ireland peace process – which was doing great, they are racist against everyone. It makes you angry, people here give out about the ‘government’ all the time here in Ireland, just take a look at England we should be glad where we live.
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