Charlie Flanagan: Hard Brexit a threat to border peace

A hard Brexit could threaten peace along the border with the North, according to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. While he welcomed the stance taken by British prime minister Theresa May that the Good Friday Agreement be protected, he warned of the dangers a “difficult” Brexit could pose.

“I say, as Minister for Justice, the greatest threat to the security of this State comes from dissident republicans along the border and a hard Brexit or a difficult Brexit will feed into tensions and could well give rise to difficulties that none of us want,” said Mr Flanagan.

“That’s why it’s important that all parties work towards the agreement and that we see a restoration of the power-sharing institutions under the agreement.