Border checks to rise tenfold after Brexit

Brexit will trigger a tenfold increase in customs declarations on Irish soil and fresh checkpoints close to the border are being considered for when Britain leaves the EU, the head of Revenue has said.

A top civil servant overseeing Ireland’s Brexit negotiations admitted that the Government did not seek a special veto on any EU-British deal — despite Spain securing such a deal over Gibraltar.

The remarks came as the European Court of Justice ruled yesterday that member states must individually ratify any fresh trade deal, a decision which could trigger post-Brexit parliamentary votes across Europe over a future relationship with Britain.