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**Hugh** · 23-04-2019, 07:48

https://news.sky.com/story/technolog...ument-11696337

Quote:

Technological solution to Irish border issue could be a decade away, says Home Office document

A Home Office presentation says a solution which would keep the border open without checkpoints is a distant prospect.

The possibility of a technological solution to the Brexit Northern Ireland border issue could be more than a decade away, according to a Home Office document seen by Sky News.

A presentation drawn up by the Home Secretary's Policy Unit and sent to HMRC and the Treasury implies that they think a technological solution - which would aim to keep the Irish border entirely open and without physical checkpoints - is a distant (and likely very expensive) prospect.

The authors state that the technology would likely not be ready to be deployed in the UK until 2030...

...The report does come up with a solution, albeit a highly complicated one.

It involves companies uploading data into a digital portal, using new blockchain technology, sensors and "Internet of things technology" along the route, "machine learning" and automated revenue collection.

"If all these technologies are brought together this could allow a seamless collection and analysis of the data needed," the presentation says. "It would also provide the ability to target interventions away from the border itself."

However, the presentation's authors acknowledge that the practical execution of such technology would be far from seamless.

They say that "no government worldwide currently controls different customs arrangements with no physical infrastructure at the border."

They believe that "technology does already exist that could be used at the border to the desired effect" but also highlights five grave practical problems in terms of actually deploying it. They are:

:: The system "must operate with 28 government agencies and a myriad of interconnected existing and planned IT systems".
:: "There is currently no budget for either a pilot or the programme itself. And it will be expensive."
:: "The suite of technology would need to operate on both sides of the border, as such it would require agreement and commitment from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the EU too."
:: "It is a big and complex project, with possibly tight deadlines. Government does not have the strongest track record on delivery of large tech projects."
:: And crucially - "Current realisation for a similar technological solution in the UK is 2030."