On a slightly different yet not unrelated note, why do the UK Border Agency do Passport checks on arrival into Belfast City from er...Gatwick. I thought Belfast was still part of the UK?
Indeed it is. However, just to upset the Unionists, the introduction of electronic border controls proposed in 2008 in the UK would have excluded NI, due to the uncontrolled border with the Republic (the UK wanted to re-introduce border controls, but the Republic didn't). There has been much gnashing of teeth and wailing on the Unionist side that NI residents may need a passport or other documentation to travel to Great Britain in the future. Not sure what the current state of lay is as both governments have now changed, but the practicalities of controlling the border on this island were not part of the thinking process - look at the road between Monaghan and Cavan (both in the Republic) to see why. And don't even suggest alterations to the border - that was last tried in 1923, and failed
MD