British Prime Minister Theresa May has previously given mixed signals about the future of the border following Brexit.
June 2016 - Then Britain's home secretary, Mrs May warns it is "inconceivable" that Brexit would not hit border trade as she campaigns for a Remain vote in referendum.
June 2016 - Britain votes to leave the EU and Mrs May replaces David Cameron as prime minister.
July 2016 - Following a meeting with then taoiseach Enda Kenny, Mrs May says there is a "strong will" to preserve free travel across the border. She also insists the vote to leave the European Union will not undermine the peace process.
October 2016 - Mrs May insists there should be no return "to the borders of the past" post-Brexit.
Related links
Theresa May writes for The Irish News: Brexit, the border and Irish citizenship
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January 2017 - Mrs May announces plans to leave the European single market and customs union, sparking fresh fears of a hard border.
January 2017 - The prime minister says she wants a "seamless, frictionless border".
March 2017 - She triggers the process that will see the UK formally leave the EU. She later tells the Commons the British government "will never be neutral" on the north's future as talk of a referendum on Irish unity grows.
April 2017 - She announces a general election, effectively scuppering attempts to restore power-sharing in the north.
May 2017 - Mrs May meets DUP leader Arlene Foster at Balmoral Show during a brief visit to the north.
June 2017 - Following Tory election losses, Mrs May agrees a £1 billion "confidence and supply" arrangement with the Brexit-supporting DUP, sparking new concerns of customs posts along the border.
August 2017 - Reports suggest the British government wants 'light-touch' customs arrangements at the border, using CCTV cameras, automatic number plate recordings and limited spot checks.
