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We need free-flowing Ireland/Ulster border, says FTA
[ May 21, 2018 // Chris ]The Freight Transport Association (FTA) repeated its call for a frictionless post-Brexit Irish border at a meeting with politicians at Stormont over the weekend. its Northern Ireland policy manager Seamus Leheny told Secretary of State for Exiting the EU David Davis, Secretary of State for Business Greg Clark MP and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Karen Bradley that members need trade to continue to flow freely across the border, to ensure that business can be supported on both sides of the border.
The MPs discussed their proposed “maximum facilitiation” solution to the Irish border with Mr Leheny and other business representatives and considered ways in which the constitutional and economic integrity of the UK could be upheld, while reinforcing commitments made to the people of Northern Ireland.
He stated: “The Irish border situation is complicated, with physical and political constraints that need careful consideration before a workable solution can be found. The conversations we had this weekend were a welcome opportunity to raise the concerns of the logistics industry directly with those at the negotiating table in Brussels, particularly the need to avoid infrastructure at the border, and the fact that technology at the border on vehicles will not be a workable solution.
“Clarity over the rules of origin for goods is vital, and despite the fact that compliance for the north-south trading route will be difficult to administer, I am confident that our message – that Ireland needs to remain open for business, with no delays at its borders – will be carried into the next round of talks with the EU.”