Brexit Series: DUP maintains tough stance on Irish border issue

Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party is maintaining its tough stance on Irish border issue. After a 30-minute meeting with European Union’s chief negotiator Michael Barnier, DUP chief Arlene Foster sounded optimistic announcing a deal could be reached over the Irish border in weeks but maintained he and her party’s tough stance on the border issue. She declared that her party’s only red line is that Northern Ireland must not be treated differently from the rest of the UK in customs or constitutionally. “We don’t know what will happen in five or 10 years’ time. We don’t want Northern Ireland going off in a different direction from the rest of the UK”, Ms. Foster added.

Irish border issue between Ireland, which is a part of the European Union and Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom has been the contentious issue in the Brexit talks. The EU and London want to avoid a return to the hard border between the two states, which makes it difficult to account the cross-border transfer of goods through Ireland, once the Brexit takes place.

Mr. Barnier’s team has tried to de-dramatize the nature of the border checks between Ireland and the UK, arguing they could be done on goods before they enter the market. However, Ms. Foster added that she would need to see the final text of the Brexit details on the Irish border before she decides the next move, whether to accept or veto the agreement.