Hard Border ?

[Observer II]

Looks like we may need a hard border in Ireland after all. Macron and Merkel have just come up with an arrangement with 14 EU Countries, where incoming migrants will be fast tracked and dispersed amongst them; including Ireland.  So an arrangement totally outside the authority of the EU; like Merkels unilateral invite to bring in a million migrants several years ago, over the heads of other EU countries. Democracy ?

[Confused52]

That is not a reason for a hard border. Ireland is free to accept whoever it likes but under the Common Travel Area it undertakes not to allow anyone to enter if they would not be given a visa to enter the United Kingdom. So you have nothing to worry about as the Irish Government recently signed a joint memorandum with the UK to continue with the CTA arrangements under all circumstances.

  

[asperity]

The Irish Border issue has been a red herring all along.

[Observer II]

Perhaps you could tell our MPs Asp.

[asperity]

38 minutes ago, Observer II said:

Perhaps you could tell our MPs Asp.

I wouldn't waste my breath talking to any of them. They are, to a man/woman. as thick as two short planks and are proud to demonstrate  the fact on a daily basis. The way they let the so-called journalists in the mainstream media run rings around them shows how thick they are, said "journalists" not being overly intelligent themselves. For the last 40 years we have allowed these charlatans to sit in parliament, being paid a good wage plus expenses, and rubber stamp legislation handed to them by unelected bureaucrats in Brussels without any further investigation, meanwhile taxing us to the hilt to pay for the EU project.  Compare British state pensions to those that are paid in other EU countries for an example. Sack them all post Brexit and start with a new set.

[Observer II]

Seems we've just had 39 reasons for a hard border in N/Ireland - another "I told you so".

[Davy51]

I see the stated route from this morning has been revised to Zeebrugge/Purfleet on the evening news.

[asperity]

Apparently the origin of the truck was Bulgaria. The tractor unit came from Northern Ireland as did it's driver.

[Observer II]

Clearly all lesser known routes are at risk. But watching a news report from Zeebrugge,  migrants were seen roaming around the lorry parks. My question is, why aren't the Dutch, Belgian and French Authorities rounding them up, giving them an opportunity to apply for asylum (if that's what they want); failing which, they should be deporting them to points of origin ?   It's clear that these ILLEGAL (economic) migrants are deliberately heading for the UK, as the UK is seen as a soft target for benefits etc  and once here they can apply for asylum, which can take years to deal with. Only 6% of those crossing the channel on boats have been returned to France to-date;  so it seems the problem with our immigration system is we don't have one.

[asperity]

You've answered your own question Obs. Obviously the Dutch, Belgian and French authorities don't want the hassle of dealing with the immigrants trying to get to the UK. They already have the headache of dealing with the ones that want to stay in Holland, Belgium and France. We can't kid ourselves that they ALL want to come here because that is demonstably not true.

[Observer II]

But these are immigrants just roaming the streets or are setting up camps in France etc;  there are camps further back, all along the migrant trail, such as in Bosnia;   and apparently no attempt is being made to deport them.

[asperity]

My point exactly Obs. They aren't trying for asylum in these countries, they just want to get to the UK. So these countries don't waste resources on them. This is the togetherness of the EU in operation.

[Davy51]

Like every other directive in the EU it seems the UK is the only country that implements them to the letter of the law. Our EU colleagues leave out the bits they don't like.

[Observer II]

This is about "the law", or rather the lack of it, throughout Europe.   1.  For genuine refugees seeking asylum - the EU convention is for them to apply in the first Country they reach; which generally means Spain, Italy, Greece or Bulgaria, depending on where they are coming from. IF, following interviews and assessment, they are refused asylum, then they should clearly be deported to their country of origin. 2. For economic migrants the process could be fast tracked to repatriate them immediately, certainly not allow them to linger in Countries where they have no legal right to be.   No, these chancers rightly see Europe as a soft liberal touch, and take advantage; so the issue falls on our Governments to initiate a draconian response to illegal entry -  but that won't happen whilst we have Parliaments full of soft liberal snowflakes.   

[asperity]

A man and a woman have been arrested in Warrington in connection with the deaths of these 39 people.