Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Stefan Rousseau PA Wire/PA Images

'We are inescapably intertwined': Ireland gets a whole section in Brexit plan

The word “Ireland” appears 132 times in the 77-page Brexit whitepaper.

THE UK GOVERNMENT has published its long-awaited “White Paper” on Brexit, with its relationship with Ireland forming a key part of the document.

Maintaining the common travel area between Northern Ireland and the Republic gets its own section in the paper, with the UK government saying that “maintaining our strong and historic ties with Ireland will be an important priority for the UK”.

They call the economies of the UK and Ireland “deeply integrated” and say that the relationship between the two countries has “never been better”.

On the issue of a hard border between North and South, they make this statement:

We recognise that for the people of Northern Ireland and Ireland, the ability to move freely across the border is an essential part of daily life.
When the UK leaves the EU, we aim to have as seamless and frictionless a border as possible between Northern Ireland (and the Republic), so that we can continue to see the trade and everyday movements we have seen up to now.

It is also signalled that it will retain the dual nationality rulings under the Good Friday agreement, whereby a resident of Northern Ireland can acquire a British or Irish passport.

They say that they will work to devise a solution that will retain the current border status while “protecting the integrity of the UK’s immigration system”.

The issue of its relations with Ireland forms just one of 12 sections to the Brexit whitepaper.

brexit whitepaper The list of twelve priorities for the British government in the Brexit White Paper gov.uk gov.uk

In terms of Northern Ireland, the UK government wants to maintain the integrity of the union as it currently exists, and indicated it would support continued devolution of powers under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.

They will discuss with each devolved administration – in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland –  how best to reinstate powers that will be returning to them from the EU.

Other aspects of the White Paper call for the control of immigration, taking back their own laws and securing trade agreements with other countries.

London is aiming for a “new, positive and constructive partnership between Britain and the European Union that works in our mutual interest”, Brexit minister David Davis said as he launched the 77-page document in parliament.

The “White Paper”, which came a day after the government comfortably won a first vote on triggering the start of divorce negotiations, also said Britain will pull out of the single market in order to control immigration from the EU, which ran at 284,000 in the year to June 2016.

Britain will look to strike a new customs agreement with Brussels, enabling it to forge its own trade deals with the rest of the world, it said.

Davis said Britain wanted to build a strong, alternative partnership with Brussels.

“This government will make no attempt to remain in the EU by the backdoor, nor will we hold a second referendum on membership,” the document says.

“Instead, the strategic partnership which we seek will underpin free trade between the UK and EU… as well as the closest possible cooperation on key issues like security, foreign policy and science and technology.”

With reporting from AFP

Read: Irish people aren’t very optimistic about Northern Ireland’s future

Read: UK MPs vote to back government Brexit bill

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
107 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute #Tag
    Favourite #Tag
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 5:39 PM

    You can’t say that though you can call for Jihad

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John003
    Favourite John003
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 5:49 PM

    If he has used the term Isreali rather than Jew and called for destruction of Israel woukd he have got jail sentence…

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John B
    Favourite John B
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:58 PM

    Whilst the libtards want the world to be lined with cotton wool, I also agree this is ridiculous. Obviously if there is outright incitement to and encouragement to violence then jail. But otherwise, free speech should be paramount. Yes this man is a horrible person but we should hear what he says, listen to his arguments and learn from him, then demonstrate the stupidity and hatred in his philosophy. Hiding him in jail just facilitates them even more.

    56
    See 12 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OpenBorders
    Favourite OpenBorders
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:09 PM

    So many rightards who don’t understand the difference between Free Speech and Hate Speech, not surprising given the low levels of intelligence amongst the Alt-Right cohort.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:12 PM

    I think that a longer sentence would be appropriate as a deterrence.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:24 PM

    @OpenBorders: I agree. The statements were false, prejudiced, extremely hateful, a dangerous denial of the human status of the victims and likely to stir up anti Semitic violence.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John B
    Favourite John B
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:28 PM

    I disagree with his statements, but I’m not right leaning. Whether or not what he did was disgusting (and I think people who think like him are disgusting), I still think he should have the right to do so, once he does not specifically invite people to violence. And I want to know these people rather than have them locked up. Essentially he is being locked up for thought crime. He still thinks what he said I am sure. Also, because he said it without the protection of religion (some religions look unfavourably upon Jews) he could be prosecuted. If he stated the same thing from a religious stand he would not even be prosecuted.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat O'Dwyer
    Favourite Pat O'Dwyer
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:37 PM

    @Clever Jake: What you point to is to a certain extent correct, but there is still an unimaginable lack of accountability at higher levels. Those people , are unfortunately above, and protected from all laws, national and international. Still a few brave and honest people around though. :
    VIDEO: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Introduces Legislation to Stop Arming Terrorists
    Washington, DC—Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02) introduced the Stop Arming Terrorists Act today. The legislation would prohibit the U.S. government from using American taxpayer dollars to provide funding, weapons, training, and intelligence support to groups like the Levant Front, Fursan al Ha and other allies of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, al-Qaeda and ISIS, or to countries who are providing direct or indirect support to those same groups.
    https://gabbard.house.gov/news/press-releases/video-rep-tulsi-gabbard-introduces-legislation-stop-arming-terrorists

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:37 PM

    @John B: I don’t think that there should be a right to spread hate, prejudice and hold up any group to contempt and hate by adopting the viewpoint of the Nazis.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat O'Dwyer
    Favourite Pat O'Dwyer
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:40 PM

    @Pat O’Dwyer: Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, “Under U.S. law it is illegal for any American to provide money or assistance to al-Qaeda, ISIS or other terrorist groups. If you or I gave money, weapons or support to al-Qaeda or ISIS, we would be thrown in jail. Yet the U.S. government has been violating this law for years, quietly supporting allies and partners of al-Qaeda, ISIL, Jabhat Fateh al Sham and other terrorist groups with money, weapons, and intelligence support, in their fight to overthrow the Syrian government.[i]

    “The CIA has also been funneling weapons and money through Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and others who provide direct and indirect support to groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda. This support has allowed al-Qaeda and their fellow terrorist organizations to establish strongholds throughout Syria, including in Aleppo.

    “A recent New York Times article confirmed that ‘rebel groups’ supported by the U.S. ‘have entered into battlefield alliances with the affiliate of al-Qaeda in Syria, formerly known as al Nusra.’ This alliance has rendered the phrase ‘moderate rebels’ meaningless. Reports confirm that ‘every armed anti-Assad organization unit in those provinces [of Idlib and Aleppo] is engaged in a military structure controlled by [al-Qaeda’s] Nusra militants.’

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:50 PM

    @OpenBorders: I have little doubt that you are highly excremental but you are entitled to your opinion and to express it as you wish since you are merely attempting to ridicule me as an individual and not because I belong to a particular group or type.

    So press ahead all you wish.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OpenBorders
    Favourite OpenBorders
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:50 PM

    You’ve probably sussed it Tony but that last reply was from one of my admirers from Cork!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:57 PM

    @OpenBorders: I knew that but it allowed me make a point.

    The point is that people can express hate, abuse, contempt, ridicule and insult but as long as it is towards the individual as an individual it is legitimate and fair expression.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:59 PM

    @Tony Daly: and the remark was directed to your admirer since yiu already know the point.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat O'Dwyer
    Favourite Pat O'Dwyer
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 8:30 PM

    Free speech ?? As a counterbalance to (Mis) and (Dis ) information :

    Jeff Bezos, Amazon endorse holocaust denial! (UPDATED)
    By Kevin Barrett, Veterans Today Editor
    In what amounts to a ringing endorsement of the claims of Holocaust revisionists, Amazon.com has apparently concluded that their books cannot be effectively refuted – and therefore must be banned.
    M.S. King, author of The Bad War, has been notified that his book has been banned from Amazon. The explanation:
    We’re contacting you regarding the following book: The Bad War: The Truth NEVER Taught About World War II. During our review process, we found that this content is in violation of our content guidelines. As a result, we cannot offer this book for sale.
    Amazon did not explain precisely which guidelines had been violated, nor did it cite specific passages. Therefore the “violations” claim is an obvious lie. The real reason King’s book and others were banned is that Jewish-Zionist pressure groups have mounted a campaign (timed to accompany the “cemetery desecration” PR stunt?) aimed at making Holocaust revisionism books unavailable. Obviously they believe the revisionists’ claims are irrefutable — and have convinced Amazon that such is the case.
    http://www.veteranstoday.com/2017/03/08/bezos-denial/

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Ireland
    Favourite Jimmy Ireland
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    Hate speech, as damaging as it is, is just that – speech. You wouldn’t see 4 years sentences for serious assaults yet putting hateful comments online, which people have to follow you to see, is deemed worthy of a substantial sentence.

    These fashionable offences are dragging all the attention away from the old-skool but more harmful theft and violent crime.

    83
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Rafferty
    Favourite David Rafferty
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:13 PM

    Israeli politicians have made similar disgusting remarks about Palestinians but there’s not even condemnation of that!

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Honeybadger197
    Favourite Honeybadger197
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:22 PM

    Its par for the course with some extremists in that part of the world. You get Palestinian politicians/ clerics telling their people to go stab jews etc etc. Im guessing you condemn this too?

    28
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:14 PM

    @Jimmy Ireland: this was extreme,y dangerous hate speech and hadca hugh likelihood of leading to attacks on people who are Jewish or suspected of being Jewish. I think that, for the purposes of effective deterrence, a longer sentence would have been appropriate.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Craig Barry
    Favourite Craig Barry
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 10:09 PM

    @Tony Daly: you not going to respond to David Rafferty or Honeybadger197? didnt think so

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:03 PM

    I know it’s important for you to tell us about what some nobody in England said and all but will you be doing an article about the dangerous armed Albanian ‘refugees’ that we recently received into *this* country?

    http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/albanian-trios-car-contained-hidden-gun-northern-ireland-court-told-35506630.html

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:07 PM

    That’s the UK too.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Lisa Saputo:

    They were arrested in the UK. They applied for refugee status in Ireland. Being able to read is super!

    41
    See 13 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:10 PM

    And? What’s the connection to this story?

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:14 PM

    @Lisa Saputo:

    No connection.

    I’m just curious as to why thejournal writes about court cases in other countries that would barely make the local news yet they ignore stories about dangerous foreign criminals in Ireland.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:19 PM

    Because it’s not that interesting to anyone apart from rampant xenophobes.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:21 PM

    @Lisa Saputo:

    I find the fact that we allow dangerous armed criminals to wander around this country and others to be interesting and I’m not a rampant xenophobe.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:24 PM

    Reporting on foreign criminals who claim asylum in Ireland is now xenophobic?! The shark has been jumped.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:27 PM

    What war is currently being fought in Albania that necessitates these guys to claim asylum here?

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:29 PM

    Speaking of dangerous armed criminals, how are the kinahans getting along?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:30 PM

    @Dave Thomas:

    Go read one of the multitude of articles about them to find out!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:32 PM

    So because Ireland has a homegrown gangland problem we should allow foreign criminals in to, otherwise it’s xenophobic?! Take the rest of the weekend off, Dave.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dubabroad
    Favourite Dubabroad
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:35 PM

    Eh…. That’s in the UK bucko… Fact check much?

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:37 PM

    @Dubabroad:

    Yeah, bucko – I fact check all the time!

    If you did the same you would know that the Albanians in question applied for asylum in Ireland, as stated both in the article I linked to and by my handsome self earlier in this thread!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OpenBorders
    Favourite OpenBorders
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:11 PM

    Ha ha! Take your medicine Naberius, you got owned!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Naberius
    Favourite Naberius
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:15 PM

    @OpenBorders:

    I own everyone, especially you!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Harries
    Favourite David Harries
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:03 PM

    He got what he desirved just because irish judges don’t like jailing people don’t think four years is harsh

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Corcoran
    Favourite Andrew Corcoran
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:15 PM

    Has the journal reported Dane Tyghe to the Gardaí for calling Republicans subhuman animals? ☺

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:18 PM

    @Andrew Corcoran: it is a false statement and utterly unjustified but I consider that Republicans are not a racial, ethnic or religious minority.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:25 PM

    Tony> the hate crime laws in the UK are actually more inclusive than that. A goth girl was beaten to death for being a goth so they expanded the laws to include all sorts of groupings.

    14
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:38 PM

    @Kal Ipers: I am not keen on beating people to death because of their identity or for any reason.

    Hateful prejudice can be powerfully contagious.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Corcoran
    Favourite Andrew Corcoran
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 10:01 PM

    @Tony: so it’s only wrong to call someone a subhuman animal if they’re a minority?!! Surely it doesn’t matter what religion you are, what ethnicity you are or what race you are.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute StopWhiteGenocide
    Favourite StopWhiteGenocide
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:15 PM

    As an American I find this appallingly retrograde. Still jailing heretics! Thought crime!

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Malachi
    Favourite Malachi
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:19 PM

    It’s not heresy, it’s the ramblings of a deluded, disgusting bigot.

    That said, no one should be jailed for speech unless it’s a direct threat of violence or slander.

    Locking up bigots will not stop bigotry.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:20 PM

    It’s not a thought if you said it out loud.

    14
    See 6 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kal Ipers
    Favourite Kal Ipers
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:29 PM

    Genocide> As an American your country doesn’t have laws that we have. Hate speech is illegal here in Europe and it isn’t thought police. We are fully aware of what can happen when you allow it. What do you care about it? Thinly veiled racist name along with the misappropriation of the celtic cross as racist symbol. Wonder why racists need to steal other cultural symbols to use do you not have any artist people about. Hitler was a painter why did he need to steal an indian symbol

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:31 PM

    As a European I find America appalling.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deborah Behan
    Favourite Deborah Behan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:33 PM

    He was jailed for inciting hatred which is a crime.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute No To Forced Births!
    Favourite No To Forced Births!
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 6:34 PM

    “Make America White Again” LOL .How will you go about doing this ?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:20 PM

    @StopWhiteGenocide: it was far more than thought crime. It was prejudiced, malevolent and potentially capable of leading to violence and ghettoisation.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OpenBorders
    Favourite OpenBorders
    Report
    Mar 11th 2017, 1:49 AM

    @StopWhiteGenocide: When you say StopWhiteGenocide, I assume you are referring to the White Genocide inflicted on the indigenous people of North and South America, and Australia, by white people?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:26 PM

    The conviction was by a jury of ordinary citizens. It was a conviction based on evidence. The statement were wholly false, unjustified and way beyond the scope of ordinary prejudice.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:16 PM

    It is unfortunate but social media and easier means of broad communication is giving a small minority of people a platform for disseminating hate.

    Hate tends to lead to violence.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:29 PM

    Look at the assassination of the late Jo Cox MP by Thomas Mair when thevrhetiruc if the far right pushes impressiinable and disturbed people into cowardly assassination.

    Killing a human being silences the human being.

    Speech can be dangerous when it is poisoned with pure hate.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 7:53 PM

    Would we be happy for such remarks to be made against the Irish living in England?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Daly
    Favourite Tony Daly
    Report
    Mar 10th 2017, 8:24 PM

    The Defendant, Lawrence Burns, got a fair trial more than he would have allowed his victims.

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.