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Varadkar dismisses claims people crossing border would have to pre-register after Brexit

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of Texas Tribune at the SXSW festival in Austin Texas at the beginning of his week long visit to the US Picture by Niall Carson/PA
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of Texas Tribune at the SXSW festival in Austin Texas at the beginning of his week long visit to the US Picture by Niall Carson/PA Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is interviewed by Evan Smith, CEO of Texas Tribune at the SXSW festival in Austin Texas at the beginning of his week long visit to the US Picture by Niall Carson/PA

Taioseach Leo Varadkar has dismissed claims that people crossing the Irish border would have to pre-register after Brexit.

Speaking from the US, where he is conducting a series of St Patrick's Day engagements, the taoiseach said: "No, it is not a solution that we envisage."

Mr Vardkar was responding to questions about a controversial plan reportedly being considered by No 10 which could mean people crossing the border after Brexit would have to register in advance to avoid checks and delays.

It has been claimed anyone without so-called fast track movement clearance would also have to use approved crossing points or risk being considered to have entered the state irregularly.

The British government has said there would be no hard border and no return to the borders of the past when the UK leaves the EU.

In December, Theresa May agreed to regulatory alignment across the UK to avoid border posts and checks.

Mr Vardkar said it might be helpful if senior British cabinet officials such as Boris Johnson and David Davis visited the border to see at first hand that it was "invisible".

"They would certainly be very welcome to visit the border," he said.

"I know [Secretary of State] Karen Bradley has already done that and a delegation of British politicians from the House of Lords and House of Commons have done that too.

"I think it would be a good idea. I can't see anything negative in a British cabinet minister viewing the border, seeing what it looks like.

"As is always the case and this is true for any politicians or anyone in any walk of life you can read as many briefing documents as you like sometimes you need to see things with your own eyes, and I think for that reason, they would be very welcome to visit the border and see it for themselves. And to see that it is invisible."