Brexit could turn Irish border into new Calais, says EU commissioner

Former Irish cabinet minister says there are growing fears in Dublin that country could be used as back door into UK

Politicians in the Irish Republic fear their border towns could become the "new Calais" if Britain votes to leave the EU, as irregular migrants use Ireland as a back door into the UK, according to an EU commissioner.

The commissioner for agriculture, Phil Hogan, said on Monday that there were growing fears in the republic that immigrants could use the border with Northern Ireland as a way into the UK if there was a Brexit result next month.