MANY readers will agree that, since the Good Friday Agreement, the issue of the Irish border between the Republic and Northern Ireland in recent years, has diminished to the point where the border has been almost invisible.

We are all very grateful for that and, indeed, it must be a great feeling for the Irish people to feel that their country is fast becoming ‘one’ again.

The efforts of those who seek to raise this ‘ghost’ again, including the EU bureaucrats and, sad to say, the new Irish administration, spurred on by a flimsy majority and unprincipled party politics, is to be loathed.

Previously the issues of the Irish border in the new world of the UK outside the EU were minimal and could readily be resolved, bearing in mind that current arrangements for different currencies, excise duties, VAT rates, income tax and corporation tax, work well and should have every reason to continue to do so.

Also, the amount of direct trade between the Republic and Northern Ireland (exports and imports) is minimal, being in the order of 1.5 per cent on either side.

The whole argument dreamed up by the EU and the real reason for this fictitious breach of trust is the fact that the EU will lose billions in revenues.

The “backstop” has been cooked up to keep the UK in the Customs Union so that UK Consumers and UK Businesses keep paying EU tariffs on imports from outside the EU.

In addition, being locked into the Customs Union cul-de-Sac, the UK will not be able to negotiate its own external trade deals without the agreement of the EU.

Outside that union, our business abilities and global connections would free us to thrive.

This message has not escaped the attention of EU bureaucrats who have every reason to snare us in (along with our vast financial contributions).

Alongside these considerations, few ever mention the massive market we have awaiting at the door.

It’s called the Commonwealth.

Even Irish senators were beginning to consider the benefits of rejoining the Commonwealth, last year (Ireland was part of the Commonwealth until 1948) to avoid being dragged down by the massive debts being experienced by EU Economies – now there’s an idea.

Chris Watkin Cuddington