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1/ A few clips from last week's NI Affairs committee (Implications of the EU withdrawal agreement and the backstop for NI). Here's @DavidHenigUK's response to the chair when asked about the feasibility of so-called 'alternative arrangements' in place of the backstop.
2/ @DavidHenigUK tells the SC exactly why he thinks it may take 10 years+ to develop alternative technological arrangements for the NI backstop. (He was repeatedly asked this by various committee members during the session).
3/ 'Are our regulations in fact going to stay the same? If they are
going to stay the same, we have that strong case (for frictionless trade). At the moment, we do not know if they are going to stay the same.' @DavidHenigUK
going to stay the same, we have that strong case (for frictionless trade). At the moment, we do not know if they are going to stay the same.' @DavidHenigUK
4/ Next 2 clips need to be watched together. 'There is no way without deep reg alignment, where there will be the level of trust that has been talked about already, to maintain that quick & easy flow of a vital product *like blood* across a border.'@NCLLawSchool (Colin Murray).
5/ 'Ms Caulfield, I made absolutely no such suggestion. I said
that in the future, when we come to reg divergence, there need to
be checks. Those checks will have to be done on products like blood for
exactly the reason you say about their importance.'@NCLLawSchool (Colin Murray)
that in the future, when we come to reg divergence, there need to
be checks. Those checks will have to be done on products like blood for
exactly the reason you say about their importance.'@NCLLawSchool (Colin Murray)
6/ 'What we can say is these are the things that the EU currently does with
every external border. They put in place the border inspection posts.
They put in place checks. If you are saying they have to do something
different, that is actually a big ask.' @DavidHenigUK
every external border. They put in place the border inspection posts.
They put in place checks. If you are saying they have to do something
different, that is actually a big ask.' @DavidHenigUK
7/ @DavidHenigUK shares his thoughts on the Malthouse agreement. 'I find that the foundations of it, in terms of what it says about a technological solution with regard to Ireland, unconvincing.'
8/ Great question here. Does the NI backstop give NI an unfair competitive advantage over the rest of the UK in accessing the Single Market? @DavidHenigUK shares a few thoughts.
9/ And here's the full transcript. data.parliament.uk/writtenevidenc…
7a/ Difficult to see any way round those pesky SPS checks....even when you put your trust in technological solutions. Even Shanker Singham concedes this point in his own report, 'A Better Deal' (12/12/18) 
