Off Topic The Politics Thread

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Should the UK remain a part of the EU or leave?

  • Stay in

    Votes: 56 47.9%

  • Get out

    Votes: 61 52.1%
  • Total voters
    117
  • Poll closed .
kiwiqpr said:
I thought border checks were bad

Police to operate cross-border checks from today in bid to halt Covid-19
Police on both sides of the Irish border will be operating “rolling cross-border checkpoints” from today in an effort to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Irish police have said.
By Mark Rainey
Saturday, 26th September 2020, 8:45 am
Updated Saturday, 26th September 2020, 7:43 pm

The main focus of the Garda Siochana (AGS) Operation Fanacht will be in Donegal where officers from Leitrim, Sligo and other counties have been drafted in to check “compliance with public health regulations”.

Any motorists stopped after entering Donegal from Tyrone, Londonderry and Fermanagh can expect to be encouraged not to travel out of or into Donegal “unless absolutely necessary”.

The warning came as the chief medical officers of both Northern Ireland and the Republic called on everyone to limit cross-border travel in response to the soaring infection rates in Donegal and in the Derry City and Strabane Council area.

Co Donegal has been placed under a three-week period of tightened restrictions, while Londonderry and the surrounding area is recording the highest Covid-19 infection figures anywhere in Northern Ireland.


Teenagers and people aged in their twenties and thirties in particular have been asked to
reduce their social contacts as a record number of people in Northern Ireland tested positive yesterday (273) under the current testing system.

First Minister Arlene Foster has appealed for people to “use their common sense” and not to visit Donegal.

“I would advise them not to go because I don’t think that that is essential travel, and it’s certainly not an exempted part,” she said.

“What we’re trying to do at the moment is to break the transmission of the virus and the way to do that is to follow the regulations and to follow the advice and I think people should listen very carefully to the advice that’s been given to citizens in Donegal but also to what we’re saying here in Northern Ireland.”


Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill described the rising infection rate in Donegal as “alarming”. She said: “I think it shows that the virus is still with us. It shows that the virus spreads at an alarming rate. What we need now is a
very strong response and I welcome the fact that, you know, measures have been put in place immediately.”

In a statement, an AGS spokeswoman said: “Operation Fanacht will see a high level of visibility of members of An Garda Síochána in Donegal to support the public health guidelines, particularly in relation to social distancing and gathering in large groups at amenities and open spaces.

“Targeted Garda checkpoints will be established throughout the county. An Garda Síochána wants to remind everyone that people are being encouraged not to travel out of or into the county of Donegal unless absolutely necessary.”
The PSNI said: “We will work with the NI Executive, local health authorities and our partners in AGS as we endeavour to counter the impact of Covid-19. We will continue to encourage the Northern Ireland public to adhere to the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) Regulations”.
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There arn't checks on the border itself. Traffic is still flowing freely in both directions.

Donegal has just began 3 weeks of level 3 restrictions which means people within the county are not meant to leave unless absolutely necessary, i.e. for work that can't be done at home or for health reasons. That means people in neighbouring counties of the Republic - Leitrim and Sligo, are not allowed enter Donegal. The border is still a free flowing border. There is no build up of traffic queueing to cross either way. The checks will be carried out within Donegal and also within Northern Ireland - Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.

As it is a health emergency, both governments have jointly agreed to carry out the checks and both are asking people not to cross the border. The fact that there is so much interaction across the border both ways, shows how vital it is to maintain an open border. Thousands of people cross to work and for education both ways.

For those reasons Kiwi - border checks are bad especially when the people on both sides of the border do not want a closed border and the majority in NI expressed that wish in a referendum in 2016. A closed border is not good for the peace process either. That's the opinion of the Chief Constable of the PSNI who said that Brexit is potentially the biggest obstacle to peace on the island. I would imagine, he knows a great deal about the feeling on the ground.
 
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Could be a big couple of days in the Brexit negotiations. I think both sides need to move but it seems that finally, things may progress.
 
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ELLERS said:
Could be a big couple of days in the Brexit negotiations. I think both sides need to move but it seems that finally, things may progress.
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Yes, cautiously optimistic. I think the EU will be offered some fishing, with restrictions on quotas and exclusion of factory ships and net use that scours the seabed and leave no juvenile fish behind to grow on. And the UK will agree to certain basic standards that it will abide by. Both sides badly need the deal as they struggle with Covid.
 
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Goldhawk-Road said:
Yes, cautiously optimistic. I think the EU will be offered some fishing, with restrictions on quotas and exclusion of factory ships and net use that scours the seabed and leave no juvenile fish behind to grow on. And the UK will agree to certain basic standards that it will abide by. Both sides badly need the deal as they struggle with Covid.
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Agree, Goldie. I listened to an EU MEP today who said they (EU) wanted things to move forward and that concessions on both sides would do this Fishing/Markets. He sounded quite upbeat and none of the usual "it would hurt the UK" threats but "It would hurt us both".
 
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Staines R's said:
Will interesting to see who’s telling the truth on that one......Trump and his legal team seem to be adamant he’s paid his taxes
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Lets hope so, it doesn’t seemingly matter to a large proportion of his fan base either way all he has to do is shout fake news and it’s not the be questioned.
 
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Willhoops said:
Lets hope so, it doesn’t seemingly matter to a large proportion of his fan base either way all he has to do is shout fake news and it’s not the be questioned.
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Your right on that one. However it does seem that much of what Trump is meant to of said or done is very much misreported......and this sticks
 
Staines R's said:
What do you mean ? I contributed to their £246k tour of South Africa.

I feel cheated
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That tour, known by Angel Meghan as the "No one asked me if I was ok" tour was an absolute bargain for taxpayers. I can't wait to subscribe to Netflix and see Harry dusting all 16 bedrooms while Meghan goes out to work healing the sick and turning water into whine
 
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They are having a laugh
Parliament’s bars will not be subject to the 10pm curfew or have to gather customers’ details despite the imposition of tougher rules on pubs last Thursday, The Times has learnt.
 
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