AS an Ulster-Scot from Northern Ireland now living in London I write in support of the idea of having border controls on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic whenever the United Kingdom leaves the European Union and I condemn the Democratic Unionist Party for supporting the idea of keeping open borders between the north and south as anti-unionist and in support of a united Ireland by default.
In regards to the idea of freedom of movement between the Republic and the UK this was guaranteed by the Treaty of Ireland in 1921 where people of the Republic were allowed to travel to the UK to live, work and the right to vote something that was around long before the Good Friday Agreement. I do not see why the return to a customs border should present the freedom of movement between the north and the Republic.
JAMES ANNETT
London
Northern Ireland has other options when it comes to Brexit
Instead of continuing stale and unproductive debates about the constitutional core of the peace settlement contained in the Good Friday Agreement, it would be better to focus more on the options that the people of Northern Ireland have under its terms, as they face the unwelcome prospect of Brexit.
The recent visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades to Dublin helped to confirm and clarify two points. In his speech to the Institute of International and European Affairs, he expressed a cautious optimism that unity negotiations might soon reach a positive conclusion.
In discussion afterwards, it was confirmed that any agreement reached would be put to the people of the two parts of Cyprus, in other words by the self-same concurrent self-determination provided for in the Good Friday Agreement, and that, if passed, a united Cyprus would become part of the European Union from day one, just as a united Germany did in 1990. Taoiseach Enda Kenny has already referred to the German precedent, and clearly the EU could not refuse to Ireland, either now or in the future, what it would have allowed to Germany and Cyprus.
What follows from this is that, independent of the UK’s intentions, Northern Ireland has options, guaranteed by both the British and Irish governments, even if it is clear that a majority at present would not exercise them. Staying in the EU as part of an all-island economy, with the planned reduction of corporation tax, could lead to a surge in inward investment, seeking spare capacity in Northern Ireland.
Farmers would continue to enjoy the benefits of the common agricultural policy. Many concerns vital to the unionist identity are accommodated by the guarantee of a continuing right to British citizenship, the continued and entrenched political existence of Northern Ireland within Ireland, the British-Irish Council, and membership of Nato’s Partnership for Peace. No doubt unionists would seek the island’s re-entry into the Commonwealth which does not appear to be a huge issue for nationalists.
Leaving aside the major political, financial, and social considerations, NI voters would hesitate to put themselves on the wrong side of any UK tariff barrier.
The political and constitutional arrangements for this island created 100 years ago were not originally sought by anyone, and proved less than ideal from many points of view, but Northern Ireland and particularly the Republic have greatly benefited from shared EU membership for over 40 years.
The present situation, which sets the two jurisdictions in Ireland once more on divergent paths, should nevertheless be looked at again, before final decisions are agreed to. The point is that Northern Ireland, uniquely in the United Kingdom, can opt out of Brexit, before or after it happens, by joining with the Republic.
The Republic contains many people of unionist and even Ulster unionist stock, including this correspondent. The Secretary of State James Brokenshire should be reminded by those who want the best deal for Northern Ireland that, when he claims that the UK as a whole will leave the EU, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland does have other options.
MARTIN MANSERGH
Tipperary, Co Tipperary
Stormont is giving old TV shows a bad name
If you were looking in from space on the north of Ireland at the political stage and drama of Stormont could you honestly take any of our ‘politicians’ seriously?
First we had Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster being associated with the character Marlene from Only Fools and Horses.
Now not to be outdone we had the DUP conference branding UUP leader Mike Nesbitt and the SDLP’s Colum Eastwood as the old TV characters Steptoe and Son selling old scrap of political ideas to the public.
It was telling that not once did the DUP leader attack Sinn Féin at the conference as the DUP/SF non-aggression pact for the moment still holds firm.
Only Fools and Horses and Steptoe and Son, being somewhat antiquated shows, have not lost their shine and appeal and are continuously watched by admiring followers.
The appeal and shine of Stormont, if it ever had one, is not so admiring for the public to view with poor scripts and predictable story lines with real politics and issues which affect us all being revealed to us as ‘plans about plans’ with no detailed structures or definite financial commitments particularly upon health, other than to be told it’s a ‘10-year plan.’
No doubt we will get lots more name calling and comparative studies done between fictional TV characters and those at Stormont in the future.
I’ve been searching for a TV show name for those at Stormont and it’s hardly original but it sits comfortably with me and that is The Muppet Show.’
Stormont is doing nothing apart from name calling and getting old TV shows a bad name in the process.
JOHN McCABE
Newry, Co Down
Correcting a shameful wrong
I welcome the announcement by the Minister for Justice that the pardons given to people convicted of now abolished homosexual offences in England and Wales could be extended to Northern Ireland. This is a small step towards correcting a shameful wrong in our history.
People from the LGBTQ community in Northern Ireland are still widely discriminated against, and much more so than their counterparts in the rest of Great Britain and Ireland. Despite this, there has still never been legislation passed through this assembly that aims to tackle this discrimination. Any previous attempts have been either voted down or blocked using the petition of concern mechanism. Any progress towards LGBTQ equality that has happened in Northern Ireland has been brought about by the Westminster government, or through the courts.
The Green Party in Northern Ireland are therefore working with other parties across the political spectrum to bring through a Private Members’ Bill to bring marriage equality to Northern Ireland – a right enjoyed by couples across the rest of these islands.
Passing our Private Members’ Bill would bring to an end this historic freeze on LGBTQ equality legislation in our assembly.
ANTHONY FLYNN
Chair of the Green Party LGBTQ Caucus, Belfast
Lottery’s life-changing differences
What do I, a paralympic gold medallist, have in common with the Seamus Heaney Homeplace, or St George’s Market or even the Connswater Community Greenway?
The answer is we have all been supported by The National Lottery. Many of you will know you are helping Northern Ireland’s leading athletes when you buy your National Lottery tickets – we are very, very grateful for your support – but I wonder whether you know who else you are helping?
Every time you play, you help fund everything from social groups for older people and parenting support networks to local sports clubs and restoration projects. In fact, the National Lottery has just awarded its 500,000th grant since it began in 1994.
Everyone who plays should be proud of the life changing difference they make.
BETHANY FIRTH
Paralympic Swimming Gold Medallist, Co Down
