While the principle of avoiding any physical border infrastructure between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is positive, it is very difficult to see how this could operate in practice, according to IFA (Irish Farmers’ Association) President Joe Healy.

This, he said, is because the UK has stated it intends to operate its own independent customs and trade policy separate to the EU.

The IFA President was giving his reaction to the publication earlier today by the UK government of a position paper on Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Healy welcomed the fact that the the paper recognises the highly integrated agri-food sector that has developed on the island of Ireland as a whole, and the need to find means to minimise any damage done to this sector.

He added that it is positive that the UK has established the principle that it wishes to avoid a border in either the UK or Ireland for any purpose – including customs or agri-food checks.

However, the president found it difficult to see how this could be achieved in practice, saying: “Cross-border trade in agricultural produce encompasses crucial issues such as food safety and animal health.

If the UK insists on pursuing its own free trade agreements, two divergent regimes would have to operate on the island and it is impossible to see how border checks could be avoided.

“The UK will have to compromise on its future trade ambitions with third countries in the area of agricultural and food products,” he added.

Healy reiterated that the UK’s insistence on leaving the customs union and pursuing an independent trade policy, as detailed in its paper on the future customs arrangements released yesterday, amount to a hard Brexit and would be very negative for Irish agriculture and the value of Irish agri-food exports.