TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has said the Republic's government will not create a "border for the Brexiteers" as the Dublin administration was forced to dismiss reports that it was seeking a 'sea border' around the Ireland.
Media reports citing discussions at last week's EU summit in Brussels claimed Dublin had rejected the notion of post-Brexit customs and immigration checks along the border and instead wanted them at ports and airports.
The Republic's government is unconvinced by UK plans to use technology to maintain an invisible land border between north and south, which will become a frontier with EU when Britain severs ties with Brussels.
The report in The Times yesterday characterised the Dublin government's "preferred option" as "effectively drawing a new border in the Irish Sea".
Unionists reacted angrily to the reported proposal though Dublin has denied it was ever on the table.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told RTE: "There is no proposal that is suggesting that there be a border in the Irish Sea."
But in what looks like a hardening of the Dublin government's stance, the taoiseach warned that he did not want an "economic border" and he challenged the British to come up with workable solutions.
"What we're not going to do is to design a border for the Brexiteers because they're the ones who want a border," Mr Varadkar said.
"It's up to them to say what it is, say how it would work and first of all convince their own people, their own voters that this is actually a good idea."
The Department of Foreign Affairs has said avoiding a hard border after Brexit would require "flexible and imaginative solutions".
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the notion of a 'sea border' was unacceptable.
He said the shifting customs and immigration posts to ports and airports "may give the Republic of Ireland a special economic status within Northern Ireland but the heavy price would be new barriers to trade in the UK" for northern firms.
"This apparent hardening of attitudes within the Irish government is untimely and unhelpful.
"The DUP will not tolerate a border on the Irish Sea after Brexit that makes it more difficult to live, work and travel between different parts of the United Kingdom. The prime minister has already reiterated this.
"At Westminster we will continue to use the influence of our 10 MPs to ensure that respect for the integrity of the UK remains at the core of the negotiations process."
Ulster Unionist leader Robin Swann described Mr Varadkar and Mr Coveney's language as "totally irresponsible".
"It is in the best interests of both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to work together to find a pragmatic, workable solution to the issue of the border between the two nations, post-Brexit, however, this latest contribution is totally unhelpful and unwelcome," he said.
Fianna Fail spokesperson on Brexit Stephen Donnelly has said that any border with Northern Ireland – either physical or electronic – must be avoided in the interests of all of the people living on the island.
Deputy Donnelly said Fianna Fáil had suggested a sea border as an option for some time.
"It is important that we have an honest conversation with our UK neighbours, and despite coming late to the table on this issue, I am relieved that the Government now appears willing to start that conversation."
Sinn Féin Brexit spokesman David Cullinane said the priority was to secure special designated status for the north within the EU and to protect the Good Friday Agreement.
