#Soft/HardPorts - The Irish Times writes delegates at the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit held in Dublin yesterday, heard that the UK are unaware of the hurt and anger towards it across EU.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has forecast “vicious” negotiations over Brexit, reflecting a belief in Government circles that the British have underestimated the level of antagonism towards them across the European Union.
Top-level sources in Government believe there is little appreciation on the part of the UK government of the level of hostility they are likely to face once prime minister Theresa May triggers article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.
New trading arrangements between the UK and the EU will have to be agreed by the remaining 27 member states and there are signs that at least some of those countries are determined to drive a hard bargain.
As previously reported on Afloat.ie, the issue of Irish ports and airports is where the UK proposed to transfer frontline immigration controls in measures to avoid enforcing a ‘hard border’ between the North and the Republic.
Speaking earlier this month, Northern Ireland Secretary, James Brokenshire, said that London and Dublin will work to strengthen Ireland’s external borders to prevent illegal migration to the UK.
The move would come into effect once the UK leaves the European Union.
