Government submits plans to EU for border posts at NI ports

This comes just a fortnight after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told DUP MP Sammy Wilson in Westminster “absolutely, categorically that there will be no new customs infrastructure” in Northern Ireland.

The posts are used to check animals and food.

A UK government spokesperson, in a statement to the BBC, said: “We have always been clear that, following the Northern Ireland Protocol, there would be a limited expansion of facilities at some existing entry points, where certain controls for animal and plant health already take place.

“We have submitted applications for these entry points on time and there will be no new customs infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

“We are continuing to work closely with the Executive on proposals to minimise requirements on the movement of food and agricultural products, in line with the approach we set out in our May command paper.”

Last month, Mr Wilson asked the prime minister about a letter “received by the management of the Port of Larne” stating that they have to “prepare to become a border control post”.

Mr Johnson replied: “I haven’t seen the letter he describes but I can tell him absolutely, categorically that there will be no new customs infrastructure for the very simple reason that under the protocol it is absolutely clear in black and white that Northern Ireland is part of the customs territory of the whole of the United Kingdom and will be joining the whole of the United Kingdom.”