Tag: Northern Ireland

• Saturday, November 10th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Brexit dead end: reigniting the armed conflict in Ireland?

  

  It was either ignorant or irresponsible for those campaigning for Brexit two years ago to claim that the Irish border would not be a problem. In fact, it may lead to a catastrophic ‘no deal’ Brexit in which the United Kingdom crashes out of the EU without an agreement of any kind.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2018 - 08:58 UTC

  Falklands' veteran wins mental health care battle

  

  The Daily Express has reported that a Falklands' veteran who went on hunger strike in protest at the treatment of ex service men has won a victory after the former head of the British Army intervened in the case. Ex-paratrooper Gus Hales, 62, launched his protest over the “disgraceful” lack of mental health care for former soldiers and the prosecutions that are being brought against those who have served in Northern Ireland.

• Wednesday, November 7th 2018 - 08:30 UTC

  EU and Brexit: Far from an agreement “to guarantee peace in Ireland”

  

  A deal on the Irish border to break the Brexit deadlock is not close, the EU’s chief negotiator said on Tuesday. Michel Barnier was speaking as Theresa May briefed the Cabinet on her plans to achieve a breakthrough in time to secure a special Brexit summit to seal an agreement in November.

• Tuesday, November 6th 2018 - 08:36 UTC

  Brexit deal on the Irish border must be agreed and shared, Dublin tells London

  

  Irish premier Leo Varadkar has told Theresa May that he will not accept a Brexit deal which gives the UK the unilateral power to halt “backstop” arrangements for the border with Northern Ireland. In a phone conversation with the Taoiseach, Mrs. May said that any agreement would have to include a mechanism to bring an end to the backstop – designed to ensure there is no hard border in Ireland if the UK and EU fail to reach a broader trade deal.

• Friday, October 26th 2018 - 08:53 UTC

  Controversy in Westminster over “legal witch hunt” of British troops that served in Ulster

  

  More than one third of Tory Members of Parliament, including a former Defense secretary - have written to the prime minister to demand an end to “legal witch hunts” of military veterans. Signatories to a letter delivered to Theresa May on Tuesday also include more than 50 members of the House of Lords, including four former chiefs of defense staff.

• Wednesday, October 24th 2018 - 08:39 UTC

  Risk of return to violence if a hard Brexit is imposed, says Irish president Higgins

  

  Irish President Michael D Higgins has said he shares the concerns of the country’s premier Leo Varadkar that there is a risk of a return to violence if a hard border is imposed post-Brexit. Mr Higgins said: “I do share the Taoiseach’s concern.”

• Wednesday, October 24th 2018 - 08:28 UTC

  UK government watchdog warns Britain is not ready for a no-deal Brexit

  

  Britain will “pay the price” of a no-deal Brexit because complicated new border controls may not be ready in time, a UK government watchdog has warned. Thousands of UK exporters did not have enough time to prepare for new border rules, the National Audit Office said.

• Tuesday, October 23rd 2018 - 09:04 UTC

  PM May: 95% of Brexit terms agreed but Irish border remains a “considerable sticking point”

  

  UK Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is prepared to “explore every possible option” to break the deadlock in Brexit talks. She told MPs 95% of the terms of exit were agreed but the Irish border was still a “considerable sticking point”.

• Saturday, October 20th 2018 - 08:42 UTC

  Ireland insists a Brexit transition period is not an alternative for backstop proposal

  

  An extended Brexit transition period is not an alternative to the EU’s backstop proposal, Irish premier Leo Varadkar has warned. The Taoiseach said he is open to the idea of an extension but it fails to resolve the border issue.

• Wednesday, October 17th 2018 - 08:34 UTC

  Ireland is getting Brexit-ready and has earmarked funds in next year's budget

  

  Ireland is stepping up preparations for physical infrastructure at ports and airports after Brexit, premier Leo Varadkar said. Irish ministers held detailed discussions in Dublin on Tuesday surrounding the hiring of customs officers and veterinary inspectors as well as the upgrading of IT systems.