The British government wants to increase border controls around Ireland in the aftermath of Brexit.

The move is being proposed as a way for both governments to retain an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

One of the major factors in the Brexit vote was the wish of British voters to control immigration.

But yet the governments in Dublin, Belfast and Westminster all want the Irish border - the UK’s only one with the EU - to remain open afterwards.

The Guardian today carries an interview with Britain’s northern secretary James Brokenshire - who wants to strengthen the combined UK and Ireland border.

The idea is that Ireland’s air and seaports would act as a border frontier for the UK - which would reduce the concern of needing to mount new controls across the Northern border.

Foreign affairs minister Charlie Flanagan says he is keen to maintain the open border but that Ireland would have to negotiate alongside all other EU member states.

And it’s not clear how the rules would affect Ireland’s right to allow citizens of other EU members - if those people don’t have the right to move to the UK afterwards.