Write a commentNewry and Armagh MEP Jim Nicholson has said comments by Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar at the weekend evoke memories of the days of Charlie Haughey, and urged him to take control of his responsibility to make sure Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland maintain a good relationship after Brexit.
Mr Nicholson said “This is very serious talk from Mr Varadkar and will only serve to wind things up.
“Why would he want to raise the prospect of putting Irish troops on the border at such a sensitive point in negotiations? Is it now Dublin’s position that they will move to put soldiers on the border at Brussel’s behest?
“It is time for Mr Varadkar to take control of his responsibility in making sure that Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have as good a relationship after Brexit as they do now. This is unconstructive talk that evokes memories of the days of Charlie Haughey.”
Mr Varadkar had been asked by Bloomberg in Davos to paint a picture of what a no deal border would look like and said "It would involve customs posts, It would involve people in uniform and it may involve the need for cameras, physical infrastructure, possibly police presence, army presence to back it up.
"The problem with that in the context of Irish politics and history is those things become targets"
