Fianna Fáil justice spokesperson Jim O'Callaghan has said the Government needs to state they will recruit further gardaí as a contingency plan in case of a hard brexit.

He said the number of gardaí in border areas has been reduced in recent years.

He pointed out there are 169 border crossings in the Cavan-Monaghan garda division.

"We need the Government of this country to state there is a contingency plan, we're going to have to recruit further Gardaí and recruit them immediately for the purposes of being prepared for a hard #brexit" @OCallaghanJim #twip pic.twitter.com/bo2O714bBq — The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) December 2, 2018

He said that if there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit, there is a concern there will be an increase in criminal activity and a hard border with customs checks.

The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan responded saying he has every confidence in the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to deal with the matter of contingency on the border.

"I have every confidence in the new Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to deal with matters of contingency, I don't think there is anybody better placed having regard to his own personal experience and expertise on border duty" @CharlieFlanagan #twip pic.twitter.com/63t5PgOOty — The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) December 2, 2018

He said thousands of gardaí have been recruited in recent years and there is a budget for another 800 next year.

He said matters are always under review and they are ready to ensure border policing will wipe out crime.

On the danger that British Prime Minister Theresa May will lose the upcoming vote on the Brexit deal in parliament, Mr Flanagan maintained that the issue of a heavily fortified border does not arise.

He said if we are in a ‘no deal’ scenario then there will have to be a ‘no deal’ deal.

I think we're coming to the crunch time now, no commentator believes @TheresaMay is going to win the vote on the 11th of December which means then we have to face what are the alternatives and the alternatives are pretty bleak" @JanOSullivanTD #twip pic.twitter.com/AufND0SI8b — The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) December 2, 2018

Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan said no commentator believes Mrs May will win the upcoming vote and so we must look at alternatives. She said the Government will have to start telling us what they will do if there is a hard Brexit.

Former US secretary Of state issues warning over reigniting Troubles

Former US secretary of state John Kerry has warned it is "imperative" to resolve the issues thrown up by Brexit surrounding the Irish border in a way that does not reignite the Troubles.

Mr Kerry made his comments during an event in the United States to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

He told the BBC's Sunday Politics programme that a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland could "re-heat passions".

Mr Kerry was joined by politicians from Northern Ireland's five main parties at Yale University.

"Under the Stormont Agreement, the last 20 years have been characterised by a border which people have been able to cross easily," he said.

"If you have a certain kind of Brexit with a hard border you could see great difficulties emerge as a consequence of that.

"I have concerns that depending on what kind of Brexit takes place it could have a negative impact on the progress made in the last 20 years.

"It could re-heat passions one way or the other or both depending on what it is. We have to see how this is going to be resolved.

"It's imperative that it's resolved in a way that it does not reignite the Troubles," said Mr Kerry.