But what if they don’t? What if they say sorry EU this is Ireland and we aren’t going to have a hard border crossing with fellow Irishman? What can the bureaucrats do? Throw pencils at them?
The Irish are loyal to the EU because they are seen as a bulwark against British influence, which they have always and forever will have a chip on their shoulder about. They won’t go against Brussels. If it causes trouble in NI with paramilitaries then they can blame the UK for causing it through Brexit.