THE government has suggested that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland could be one of those beaded curtains popular in the 1970s.

Ministers believe the curtain, which would run for the full 310 miles from Lough Foyle to Carlingford Lough, would fulfill EU requirements while allowing goods to simply be driven through.

A spokesman said: “You remember them? They were made of like cane or bamboo or something. Everyone had them.

“You’d put it in the doorway between the kitchen and the dining room, and they’d stop cooking smells getting through but you could still talk, or something. Actually I’m not sure why we had them.

“But if we use one, it’ll mean everyone knows exactly where the border is while not presenting any kind of barrier that would upset the IRA because you just part it with your hands.

“And if anyone tried to take terrorists or drugs or imports from China that don’t meet EU standards through, we’d know immediately because we’d hear the beads rattle.”