Thread by @timoconnorbl

So: first impressions on the Ireland part. First, para 43, “effective operation” of the GFA bodies. This is a biggie, in an EU document.

ec.europa.eu/commission/fil…

Para 47: recognition that the GFA is dependent in many aspects on the EU. This is an interesting formal recognition that may have results I’ll deal with down-thread.

Para 49. The good stuff. *Guarantee* from the UK of no Hard Border. “Full alignment” - a technical phrase in EU documents - into the future. No change in that phrasing.

This is huge, because that includes the internal market, which - as I pointed out the other day via recital 2 of the Free Movement Directive - includes Free Movement. Well, now.

Para 50. No new regulatory barriers in the UK, but predicated on para 49. In other words: if Ireland needs it, the whole UK gets it.

Isn’t this *fun*!?

NI moves with Ireland; the UK moves with NI - unless, in the next bit of para 50, NI decides it wants a special deal. And if it does, the rest of the UK has to give unfettered access to NI.

It’s about this stage that the musing that the DUP are just FF with bowlers and better-shined shoes comes back to mind. This, lads, isn’t just pulling a stroke, it’s a *shhhhtroke*.

Para 51 - oversight mechanisms. That’ll mean an EU law function. This is what I averted to above. But it gets better...

Para 52: Irish citizens in the North to keep all EU rights. Boom. Those rights under the CFR include MEPs, voting, public law rights, free movement, access to the CJEU, effective remedy, and so on, plus things like Erasmus. This will be *huge*.

Because para 53 commits the UK to no diminution of rights, including - ie, not limited to - EU non-discrimination rights. Which includes CFR rights, for one.

Para 54 - tl:dr, Ireland can do what it wants, the CTA stays. Anyone for Schengen?

Para 55 -

Para 56 - more detail in phase 2, especially on transit across the UK. We may just have saved Holyhead. But I suppose it can’t all be good.

Overall:

An absolute triumph for @campaignforleo @simoncoveney @dfatirl building on the work done by @EndaKennyTD and @CharlieFlanagan . Chapeau, all.

The DUP finally learnt. They did the deal while the going was good and did for the Tory hardliners before they did for Unionists. Because this UK-wide regulatory alignment means notions the UK can ignore the acquis are done for.

Jacob Rees Mogg will be waking to a stabbing pain in the back and a Fermanagh voice saying, “How ‘bout ye?”

🎼You never saw anything as beau-uuuutiful as the stab that Jacob bore...🎶 😉

Lovely hurling. Lovely, *senior* hurling.

So now. Right, play amongst yourselves, I’m off to caffeinate.