As a no-deal Brexit is becoming more of a reality, there is one thing that Ireland, the UK, and the EU can agree on: they all want to avoid a hard border. A hard border in Northern Ireland affects not only the peace-agreement that’s in place, but 7,300 companies that export to the Republic of Ireland (Fig 1). Approximately 177,000 trucks and 250,000 vans cross the border each month for trade purposes (Romei, 2019). The Republic of Ireland being Northern Ireland’s number one external trading partner causes detrimental implications in the case of a hard border (Romei, 2019).
David Davis, former Brexit secretary, had a vague understanding of what a hard border would entail. A Brexiteer who considered Ireland part of the UK (Price, 2019), would not remember the implications of the hard border in the past. His lack of transparency paints a clear picture of his government, admitting they had a “blind spot” over Brexit’s effect on Ireland, in relation to the border issue (Lonergan, 2019).
How can a hard border be avoided? What is the alternative?
Technology is becoming the answer for almost everything. From ordering dinner, to finding a date, it is being used to solve nearly every problem. Yet, in talks of a hard border, many MPs have dismissed the solution of technology: Yvette Cooper, Labour MP, believes “ even new technology, however fabulous and whizzy it becomes in the years ahead, cannot solve the wider problem” (Preez, 2019). Like many decisions in the UK government (deciding Theresa May’s worthiness for example), there are contrary opinions: Tory MPs believe by using established technology and “modifying existing arrangements”, we can avoid a hard border (Kuenssberg, 2019).
So, who’s right?
Current technologies make Trump’s idea of a physical wall old-fashioned. Companies like FLIR and Morpho embrace the necessary technology. FLIR markets itself to be “The World’s Sixth Sense” (Flir.com, 2019), using 360 degree situational awareness, thermal cameras, radars and other sensors (Image A). Their contract with the Department of Homeland Security to provide thermal imaging cameras is valued at 101.9 million dollars (Vice, 2019).
Biometrics company Morpho creates tools to identify faces, license plates, or body movements captured on footage (Morphotrust.com, 2019). With advanced technology, comes a very large price. The Department of Homeland Security had a budget of approximately 375 million dollars in 2016 (Vice, 2019). It’s extremely likely that this figure will continue to increase under Trump’s administration. So unless there is a very kind donation of approximately 375 million pounds for the border cause, it is unlikely that technology is the solution, for now.
References
Flir.com. (2019). Thermal Imaging, Night Vision and Infrared Camera Systems | FLIR Systems. [online] Available at: https://www.flir.com/ [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Kuenssberg, L. (2019). Technology ‘key to Irish border solution’. [online] BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45495960 [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Lonergan, A. (2019). ‘Ireland was our blind spot’ – Ex-Brexit secretary David Davis admits UK Government should have put ‘more resources’ into solving Irish border crisis. [online] The Irish Post. Available at: https://www.irishpost.com/news/former-brexit-secretary-david-davis-admits-uk-government-put-resources-solving-irish-border-blind-spot-163505 [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Morphotrust.com. (2019). Officer 360. [online] Available at: http://www.morphotrust.com/IdentitySolutions/ForFederalAgencies/Officer360.aspx [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Preez, D. (2019). Brexit – MPs argue technology cannot solve the problem of the Irish border. [online] diginomica government. Available at: https://government.diginomica.com/2018/05/01/brexit-mps-argue-technology-cannot-solve-problem-irish-border/ [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Price, R. (2019). ‘The Irish border is the beach’ – Irish comedian brilliantly corrects British politicians on the border issue | The Irish Post. [online] The Irish Post. Available at: https://www.irishpost.com/news/irish-comedian-brilliantly-corrects-british-politicians-border-issue-160073 [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Romei, V. (2019). Why Northern Ireland needs to avoid a hard border | Financial Times. [online] Ft.com. Available at: https://www.ft.com/content/30c13788-d4e0-11e7-8c9a-d9c0a5c8d5c9 [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Vice. (2019). The Future of Border Securing Technology Is Here and It’s Terrifying. [online] Available at: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/zngp34/the-new-frontiers-in-border-security-technology [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Walsh, J. (2019). Brexit Means Border. [image] Available at: https://www.theneweuropean.co.uk/top-stories/the-brexit-vote-has-created-a-united-ireland-at-least-when-it-comes-to-the-border-1-5140772 [Accessed 15 Feb. 2019].
Beyond The Border 