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23/01/2019
DUP Call For EU To Clarify Border Threat
A DUP MP has called for the European Union to declare the impact of a so-called hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic if Brexit takes place without an agreed divorce settlement.
Gregory Campbell was responding to comments issued by Margaritis Schinas, a key spokesperson for the European Commission, that there would definitely be a hard border in the event of a no-deal.
The DUP has repeatedly accused the EU and the Irish Government of using the possibility as a threat over Brexit.
"The EU must spell out what exactly this border would look like," the east L'Derry MP said.
"Residents and business people are being bombarded daily with a diet of fear and recklessly inaccurate scare stories.
"Setting aside for the moment the more important matter of securing a better deal that people can support, the EU should explain what this 'hard border' would consist of. How would it be constructed? Where would the employees be drawn from? What steps would be implemented, and by whom to prevent the ease with which people and companies could avoid using the crossings where this 'hard border' was constructed?"
Mr Campbell's party, which currently secure Prime Minister Theresa May's majority in the House of Commons through their confidence and supply deal, voted down the Withdrawal Agreement last week due to their opposition to the border backstop.
"This is a fundamental question that the EU must answer given the frequency with which they have raised the subject matter over a period of almost two years. It is also a challenge for our government to call time on EU scaremongering. The peace and stability of Northern Ireland should not be exploited as a bargaining chip by people who appreciate very little what life living on the RoI / NI border is really like," the DUP MP concluded.
(JG/CM)
Gregory Campbell was responding to comments issued by Margaritis Schinas, a key spokesperson for the European Commission, that there would definitely be a hard border in the event of a no-deal.
The DUP has repeatedly accused the EU and the Irish Government of using the possibility as a threat over Brexit.
"The EU must spell out what exactly this border would look like," the east L'Derry MP said.
"Residents and business people are being bombarded daily with a diet of fear and recklessly inaccurate scare stories.
"Setting aside for the moment the more important matter of securing a better deal that people can support, the EU should explain what this 'hard border' would consist of. How would it be constructed? Where would the employees be drawn from? What steps would be implemented, and by whom to prevent the ease with which people and companies could avoid using the crossings where this 'hard border' was constructed?"
Mr Campbell's party, which currently secure Prime Minister Theresa May's majority in the House of Commons through their confidence and supply deal, voted down the Withdrawal Agreement last week due to their opposition to the border backstop.
"This is a fundamental question that the EU must answer given the frequency with which they have raised the subject matter over a period of almost two years. It is also a challenge for our government to call time on EU scaremongering. The peace and stability of Northern Ireland should not be exploited as a bargaining chip by people who appreciate very little what life living on the RoI / NI border is really like," the DUP MP concluded.
(JG/CM)
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