Any Hardening Of Irish Border 'Completely Unacceptable' - SF

Any hardening of the border between the south and north of Ireland is "completely unacceptable", Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has said.

Deputy McDonald also called on the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to ensure that all options, including support for the Good Friday Agreement provision for a unity referendum, are on the table.

Deputy McDonald was commenting after the Taoiseach confirmed that the government is in discussions with the European Commission over the cross-border checks that will be required in the event of a No Deal Brexit.

She said: "Any imposition of custom checks is completely unacceptable. It is political vandalism which grossly undermines the Good Friday Agreement and we cannot allow it to be forced upon our country because of the intransigence of right-wing Brexiteers within the Tory party supported by the DUP.

"Any impediment to trade and movement on this island will damage border communities, harm the economy and undermine the architecture of the peace process. Such checks should not be countenanced by the Government and the Taoiseach’s comments last night are extremely unhelpful.

"These are fundamental issues that will have a massive impact on our country for generations to come and it is the job of An Taoiseach and our European Partners to prevent this disastrous scenario from emerging.

"That means insisting on the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and Backstop as the minimum to protect our interests and prevent a hard border.

"If the Tories and the DUP continue to resist that pragmatic solution then the Taoiseach should move to supporting the Good Friday Agreement provision for a unity referendum to be held.

"The EU has already confirmed that a reunified Ireland will be entitled to automatic re-entry and the reconciliation of our country is the obvious and clearly sustainable solution to the problem of the border."

(MH/JG)