Ten hard truths of a hard border

A hard border on the island of Ireland would have a huge impact on a whole range of areas and activities – and the clock is counting down rapidly

A lorry crosses the border past a Border Communities Against Brexit billboard in Newry, Co Down Picture: Getty

1: Agriculture

Farmers will be first in the firing line if a hard border is erected: more than 40 per cent of all our agri-food exports go to Britain.

Beef, lamb and pork can be sent to the North and to England, Scotland and Wales tariff-free while Britain is part of the EU. But in a no-deal Brexit, then World Trade Organisation tariffs would be applied to Irish beef. The price of a ...