The Good Friday Agreement may pay more dividends than ever before as it’s now crucial to what the eventual outcome of a Brexit deal, if any, will be.
The EU’s Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier spoke yesterday afternoon about the possibility of a Brexit deal still on the table.
Barnier spoke a short time after British Prime Minister Theresa May spoke in Belfast where she reiterated that Britain voted to leave and that she needs the best outcome possible for Britain.
Barnier said the backstop arrangement in the final agreement will “not necessarily be ours” but he insists there must be one.
He adds: “The problem in Ireland is checking goods.
“It is not a border but you have got to check the goods to protect consumers and protect businesses.”
He said that the EU is open to a deal on Northern Ireland’s border but that it must be “workable”.
Meanwhile Irish politicians are talking tough, but realistically must hang onto the coattails of what the EU’s move will be. Their negotiations are said to be taking both Ireland and Northern Ireland into consideration in an effort to make something “workable” for everyone. Only time will tell.