Opinion

Deaglán de Bréadún: It does no harm for the Taoiseach to keep the Tories on their toes

Leo Varadkar called for gay rights in the north
Leo Varadkar called for gay rights in the north Leo Varadkar called for gay rights in the north

One of life's daily pleasures, for the present writer at least, is to read the "On This Day" column edited by Eamon Phoenix for this newspaper.

In the process of perusing those past reports from the Irish News, one can learn lessons for the present and even the future. It is useful to read the contemporary accounts of the Irish politics 100 years ago: the humble reporter with pencil and notebook gives a perspective that may be different at times from the one provided by the academics, but in its own way very enlightening.

Apart from all that, we history buffs enjoy delving into the past and wondering whether things would have turned out for the better if different choices had been made.

Another source of knowledge and enjoyment in this line is the series entitled "The Revolution Papers" which reprints Irish newspapers of the past in their original format. Having covered the period 1916-23, the publishers have moved on to the years 1923-49.

Last week’s issue was devoted to World War Two as it affected the north and, along with reproductions of Belfast-based print media, a 48-page booklet is enclosed, titled "A Pocket Guide to Northern Ireland" and published at the time by the War and Navy Department in Washington DC.

An estimated 300,000 US service personnel passed through the north in those years, prior to being deployed in major operations such as the D-Day landings of 1944. The principal piece of advice they are given is: "(1) Don't argue religion; (2) Don't argue politics."

The Ulster Plantation is cited as part of the explanation for such a small island being divided between two governments. Irish neutrality is described as "strange ... when the grave issues at stake in this war are considered". Then Taoiseach Eamon de Valera comes in for some criticism as a result, but the pamphlet claims, without giving any real evidence, that "the great majority of the citizens of Éire privately hope for an Allied victory".

The best tip in the booklet is that if you are invited to join a group who are buying drinks for one another in a pub, don't leave until you have bought your own round. In the past and maybe even now, one of the most damaging things you could say about someone was: “That person doesn’t buy his/her round.”

Meanwhile, the reproduction of The Irish News for October 30, 1943, contains an alarming report that, because of a shortage of barley, the export of Guinness across the border from the south had been stopped. And we thought Brexit was bad . . .

On the subject of Brexit and today’s politics, newly-arrived Taoiseach Leo Varadkar certainly caused a stir with his recent sharp intervention in opposition to an “economic border”. It was quite a change from the more measured and low-key conduct of British-Irish relations over the last few years.

At a time when there are such deep divisions in the British camp and a lack of certainty over strategy, it may not be any harm for the Irish government leader to cause a fuss and give the Tories a wake-up call. At the same time it is necessary to keep the lines of communication open and active: put the "Brits" on their toes but make sure we keep talking constructively to one another.

Varadkar's démarche won't do him any harm with voters in the south. There is growing speculation about a general election, possibly next spring. The new Taoiseach's campaign inside the Fine Gael party to take over from Enda Kenny demonstrated his ability to work the political system from the inside: his next challenge will be to win over the general public at the ballot-box.

We are not used to Fine Gael leaders adopting a strongly nationalist stance, as Varadkar has done with his declaration that the south will not allow itself to be taken for granted in the Brexit negotiations. Fianna Fail and, of course, Sinn Féin are meant to be the parties that wrap the green flag around them and Varadkar may garner some extra support in the polling-booth with his forthright declaration.

His intervention in the gay rights issue in the north is another departure from the norm. Some have suggested that he should steer clear of internal political matters in another jurisdiction. But we must remember that he is competing for public support with Sinn Féin, which is organised on both sides of the border and makes no apologies from taking an all-island approach. Besides, Gerry Adams and Co are offering themselves as partners in the next government, with either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, so the more they all have in common, perhaps the better. And the one thing they all need to remember is: buy your round.

@ddebreadun