IRELAND'S DEPUTY prime minister, Simon Coveney, has dismissed leaked proposals outlining Boris Johnson’s plan to solve the Irish border Brexit issue by introducing customs sites on both sides of the border and real-time tracking devices on lorries.
RTE gained an exclusive look at four tightly guarded unofficial papers submitted by the UK government to Brussels.
Under the reported proposals customs clearance sites would be installed five to 10 miles either side of the border to help deal with the flow of imports and exports.
Traders would have the option of either lodging papers at these sites or installing an electronic tracking device on their vehicle as part of an online "transit" arrangement.
In selected instances, where inspections would be required, the papers suggested dedicated premises or production sites would be made available.
Coveney rejected the plans as a “non-starter” on Twitter, and called for a “serious proposal” from the UK.
Non-Paper = Non-Starter. Time the EU had a serious proposal from the UK Govt if a #Brexit deal is to be achievable in October. NI and IRE deserves better!
— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) September 30, 2019
His stance was echoed by other Irish political leaders with Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald describing them as “absolutely out of the question”.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was similarly dismissive.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a mile, five miles or 10 miles away, the presence of physical checks will create economic and security challenges that are unacceptable," he said.
Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said: “They would place an enormous administrative burden on businesses and rely on technology that does not yet exist.
“Crucially, if true, they represent a rowing back on the commitments made to the people of Northern Ireland two years ago that there would be no return to a hard border or related checks or controls.”
Johnson has moved to dismiss the leak, claiming the proposals are "out-of-date".
A spokesperson for Downing Street said: “Nothing we are proposing involves checks or controls at the border. That is an absolute commitment.”
