EU Brexit chief against 'hard border' between Anglesey and Ireland

European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier says he wants to avoid a “hard border” between the UK and Ireland.

Fears have been raised that Holyhead port could suffer if customs checks are brought back between the Republic and the UK.

Mr Barnier today addressed both houses of the Irish parliament on the issue of Brexit with huge concerns in the Republic, particularly on the issue of the border with Northern Ireland.

Labour’s Ynys Mon General Election candidate Albert Owen welcomed the comments and said if re-elected he would create a ‘Brexit Forum’ on Anglesey to highlight potential issues.

Mr Barnier said: “European integration helped to remove borders that once existed on maps and in minds.

“Brexit changes the external borders of the EU. I will work with you to avoid a hard border.

Michel Barnier addressing Ireland’s parliament at the Houses of the Oireachtas

“The UK’s departure from the EU will have consequences. We have a duty to speak the truth.

“Customs controls are part of EU border management. They protect the single market. They protect our food safety and our standards.

“But I already said many times: nothing in this negotiation should put peace at risk.”

He added: “I made very clear that the border issue will be one of my three priorities for the first phase of the negotiation.

“Together with citizens’ rights and the financial settlement.

“We first must make sufficient progress on these points, before we start discussing the future of our relationship with the UK.

“The sooner this will happen, the better. If the conditions are right, a close partnership with the UK is in everybody’s interest.”

Mr Owen said: “The border between the UK and Ireland is a massive issue and one I have raised with the Prime Minister, David Davies and Welsh Secretary Alan Cairns.

Labour candidate for Ynys Mon Albert Owen

“Holyhead is the most important link between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland, and after Brexit the most important link to the European Union.

“If re-elected I am going to set up a Brexit forum on Anglesey with key stakeholders on the island so that we can feed the issues around Holyhead port into the Brexit negotiations.”

He added: “The comments today were welcome to hear.

“A hard border at Holyhead would create chaos.

“There can be no hard border here, no barriers to the movement of people and goods, no penalties to trade.

“This is a crucial issue for Anglesey, the wider Welsh economy and the whole of the UK.”