Northern Ireland and customs union
Senator Coghlan discussed a DUP article on Brexit, customs arrangements, and the need to avoid a no-deal collapse. Despite some microphone-related interruptions and interjections, he argued that Northern Ireland should not be a bargaining chip and that Ireland must remain patient while protecting North-South and east-west relations.
There is an interesting piece in The Irish Times today by Ms Diane Dodds, MEP, of the Democratic Unionist Party. I must say it is rather contradictory.
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All this machinery is rather confusing and-----
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It might be my macular edema. I am trying to focus.
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There is no question of Northern Ireland being used as a bargaining chip in the negotiations, but some form of customs union will be necessary. I believe she understands that, judging by the later part of her article. No one wants to contemplate a collapse and a no-deal situation. She misrepresents many of the statements from the Oireachtas as being an ultimatum, which is not our intention. I do not doubt that the negotiators - the British Minister, Mr. Davis, and his team, and Mr. Barnier and his team - are competent and able people.
However, I agree with Ms Dodds on one matter. The trade talks will be the key to removing a no-deal scenario from the table once and for all. There is no question of a border on the Irish Sea. That is not in our interests either. I mean no disrespect, but our east-west trade is worth more than our North-South trade. That said, of course we want a seamless Border.
People will have to learn to be patient while the negotiations are under way. In any negotiation, there has to be give and take and compromises have to be made. There must be some form of a comprehensive, overall UK-EU customs partnership - a customs union in another guise, under another name or whatever. That would not be beyond the wordsmiths, lawyers and everyone else.
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Mr. Davis has an able team as well. I am not referring to him personally. Teams from both sides are working full time in Brussels. To Ms Dodds and all of the DUP, I say that we all must be patient. Ireland cannot negotiate. We are a part of the EU, so we are locked in on that side, but of course we want to maintain our North-South and east-west relationships.