Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The future management of the Irish border is one of three main priorities in UK-EU Brexit talks The government has said it does not want any border posts between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in its new position paper on Brexit.
The paper is part of its negotiations with the European Union and the broad ideas in the document appear familiar.
It says the government does not want to see any physical infrastructure at the Irish border, such as customs posts.
But Brexit critics have complained that the UK’s proposals lack credible detail on how that aim could be achieved.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK which will share a land border with an EU member state when Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.
The future management of that border is a highly sensitive issue and is one of three main priorities in UK-EU Brexit negotiations.
As revealed on Tuesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wants a time-limited period to implement any new customs arrangements, including considerations relating to the «unique circumstances» of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The government has repeated its desire to maintain the Common Travel Area and the rights of UK and Irish citizens, and to uphold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The paper also dismisses the idea of a customs border in the Irish Sea, saying it would be economically and constitutionally unviable.
It recognises that all this needs to be negotiated with the EU, in the hope that the border between the EU and the UK will be as «seamless» as possible.
Image caption The government ruled out suggestions of concentrating border checks at Irish Sea crossingsAn Irish government spokesperson welcomed the position paper as «timely and helpful» as it offers more clarity on the UK’s strategy.
However, they warned: «Protecting the peace process is crucial and it must not become a bargaining chip in the negotiations.»
Campaigners who oppose Brexit have claimed that the re-introduction of a so-called «hard border» would severely damage the Northern Ireland peace process and have a negative economic impact.
UK-Irish trade in numbers
- £13.6bn worth of goods exported to the Republic of Ireland from