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I don't see how it would be possible to implement physical checks on the Irish border. Quite aside from the risks of violence it's just not practical. Even away from the border looks unlikely to work - to start with especially. Lets look at how you might try. 1/
70% of cross-border journeys by NI registered Heavy goods vehicles start at or end in areas close to the border - mainly Newry, Monaghan, Aughnacloy, Dundalk, Middletown. Half of all heavy goods vehicles go through the Newry-Dundalk corridor. 2/ 
When it comes to BIPs its unenforceable. If you have them further inland it wreaks havoc on logistic chains as most have to reroute (to magically built/staffed posts). BIPs mean 100% doc check, and physical inspection. That would need a fullscale shutdown to enforce 3/
You probably need the military to do it too. Not happening. For other checkpoints, perhaps you could just have a few on the main corridor and just select lorries based on risk and pre-declaration. The other option is no checkpoints and customs comes to you. 4/
For NI and IE authorities either would take a lot of planning and coordination and it relies on all NI exporters filling in paperwork beforehand and submitting before crossing. You would probably get mass-non-compliance which then requires harder border to enforce 5/
It's certainly not happening on day one. Getting cross-border traders to submit everything they need then pay the tariff and VAT is a huge task - for traders who have no idea what it involves. It would create massive smuggling incentive overnight too 6/
The most viable option is no checkpoints. Assuming traders can submit what they need to inspections are then done at warehouses where goods are being packed/unpacked. I highly doubt there is capacity to do this. Also that model struggles for small traders on the border 7/
The Commission are in a quandary because as far as I can see there's only one way to enforce the border day 1 and that is checks on all goods from UK and Ireland. That is quite possibly against the rules of the SM because it would force checks on Irish movements of goods too. 8/
If they can't do that then they need a waiver on checks. To implement the kind of system Barnier is talking about - still massively difficult for crossborder small traders, and still economically disastrous - it would take a lot of planning to design and time to implement. 9/
With Ireland not planning anything now - at least seemingly and NI unsure of, the Commission are more likely to try to turn the screw on UK. It's easier to force the UK to agree to the backstop than force Ireland and somehow NI to redesign customs ends/
