As an Irish citizen who voted to remove Articles 2 and 3 from the Irish Constitution as required for the approval of the Good Friday Agreement, I feel a great sense of betrayal when I hear ‘Brexiteer politicians’ especially DUP politicians maintain that Brexit has no relevance to the agreement, when this is patently not the case.
In contesting their point of view, one has only to consider if the Irish people would have voted to remove the above articles from our Constitution had Ireland and the UK not been members of the EU in 1998 – the answer is most definitely “no” and no Irish government would consider for a single moment putting such a proposition to the people by way of referendum. That being the case, does anybody seriously believe that the unionist population of Northern Ireland would have voted for an agreement that did not deal with these articles? Again, the answer again is no.
The DUP in the very fact that they promoted Brexit – and not just a so-called soft Brexit by remaining in the Single Market/Customs Union, did untold damage to the Good Friday Agreement as the trust on which the Agreement depended was destroyed.
Notwithstanding this, the DUP continue to advocate for a hard Brexit despite the fact that all reasonable projections show that Northern Ireland would suffer greatly from any type of Brexit and in particular from a hard Brexit. This approach totally ignores the views of the business community, trades unions and the UFU in Northern Ireland and it is left to the taoiseach and Irish government to fight for the interests of all the people in the island of Ireland.
The DUP continuously criticise the taoiseach’s and Irish government’s approach to Brexit and maintain that, Mr Kenny, the previous taoiseach, would have been far more accommodating to their views. However, they showed scant regard for Mr Kenny’s generous invitation to join in some type of all-Ireland forum with a view to arriving at a common approach towards mitigating the problems created by Brexit.
When all of the above is taken into account, together with the DUP’s refusal to agree to an Irish Language Act, notwithstanding that corresponding acts already exist in both Scotland and Wales, I can only conclude that the DUP, under its current leadership, would do whatever it takes to distance themselves from anything Irish – even if in so doing they destroy the Good Friday Agreement and all which that implies, and severely damage the livelihoods and quality of life of all of the people in this Island.
Finally, it should be remembered that if there was no Brexit there would be no need to argue about a Backstop as there would be no need for one.
JOHN O'SULLIVAN
Kilkenny, Co Kilkenny
Nothing noble on either side in Venezuelan crisis
The growing discontent and risk of civil disorder within Venezuela may become a national tragedy very shortly as battle lines are drawn between Madro, the incumbent president, and the self-proclaimed interim successor Juan Guaidó. This may spell a national disaster for the country but this is of no concern to the world powers that have done nothing to ease the increased tension but have made it impossible for either man to compromise for the good of their fellow citizens.
On one side we have at least 20 countries including the US rooting for Guaidó and on the other, Turkey, Russia and China leading the vanguard for Madro. When you look at Turkey and Russia’s relationship with Venezuela it becomes evident that their long-term economic interests lie in the hands of Madro. In particular the trade in Venezuela’s gold. In 2018 Turkey alone handled £688m in the country’s precious metal ostensibly to have it refined and returned, although there is no record or proof of its return. Russia and China have invested many billions in loans to the country and both expect a return on their investments which involves stripping the country of its vital assets.
The military have been effectively handcuffed to the current government through lucrative positions such as the defence minister Vladimir Padrino, who controls the crucial food production. The UN accuses the military of killing hundreds under the guise of fighting crime. Madro has seen to it that he and the military shall stand or fall together.
This sabre rattling has nothing to do with the greater good of the people. This is the reality of global economics and supremacy with idealism a sideshow to dupe and beguile the gullible. There is nothing noble on either side these main actors have taken. It is a lust for power and an insatiable demand for their military and economic interests to grow and as usual it is the people who will become the collateral damage.
LAURENCE TODD
Belfast BT15
Equality deficit
I must commend the coverage The Irish News has given to the landmark case of Co Derry woman Emma De Souza, who is contesting the British Home Office’s imposition of a British citizenship upon her (and by extension all of us).
While at times complex in its outworking given the legal, legislative and political implications, Emma’s case, to identify and be recognised solely as Irish as enshrined in the GFA, has exposed the rights and equality deficit being faced by Irish citizens who are resident in the north.
The dangers posed to our Irish citizenship rights are only exposed and exacerbated further as a result of Brexit. The Irish and British governments must ensure full implementation of the crucial part of the GFA relating to our citizenship.
Our rights, entitlements and protections as citizens must be urgently legislated for.
A partial, conditional or indeed second-class Irish citizenship, will not be tolerated by a community demanding full rights and equality, as well as new constitutional arrangements.
Despite the recent assurances of Theresa May her government continues to defend the position that all in the north are British citizens and therefore defy the GFA.
This is unacceptable. The rights of Irish citizens in the north must be respected and safeguarded in law
The Irish government must make good on its promise to “protect our rights” to ensure we are equal and full citizens.
SENATOR NIALL Ó DONNGHAILE
East Belfast
Canadians must speak up for those impacted by Dalradian
I would be grateful if I could mention two aspects of the Canadian government’s response to resource extraction around the world. Firstly, allow me to acknowledge the positive action of the Canadian government, through its Embassy in Lagos in 1995, in relation to the tragedy in Ogoniland in Nigeria and the pollution of the Niger Delta by Royal Dutch Shell. Secondly, I must equally acknowledge the Canadian government’s irresponsible detachment from the history of Canadian multi-national activities in various parts of the world.
This latter point is so acute that Canadian public pressure has led to the creation of the new office of the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (Core) with powers to investigate Canadian mining practices abroad. Although approved in law, no-one has yet been appointed to the role.
Your recent startling front page headline in The Irish News regarding objections to a mining project in Tyrone – ‘10,000 object to Tyrone gold mine’ (January 28) – would automatically qualify for the attention of such an ombudsman. The mining company, Dalradian, sports a Celtic name but is Canadian, and plans to use cyanide in order to extract gold from
the Sperrins.
The Canadian people assisted and welcomed those fleeing Ogoniland during the hanging of the Ogoni nine. It was pressure by the Canadian people that forced their government to establish the office of Core. Canadians must now be prevailed upon to speak up for the people impacted by the multi-national Dalradian in Tyrone.
Sr MM McCARRON OLA
Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles,
Ballintemple, Co Cork
