Opinion

Unionists will pay high price for pact with cult of extinct empire

The cost of Brexit here is not just a bill that will be paid by the agri-food industry and small businesses. Economic uncertainty caused by the circus that passes for Westminster government and the expense of hedging bets on the future relationship between Europe and Britain will have already been factored into the future money doled out to almost Ulster. Should there be a no-deal exit then even the most optimistic financial forecasts will realise severe knock-on effects on all of us. Pensions would be curtailed; NHS waiting lists would lengthen; roads will further degrade; care packages would reduce or disappear and these are only some of the services that would be crippled by even a relatively small reduction in GDP. Unionists will pay a further price for their pact with the cult of extinct empire. Many understanding this have raised their heads from the sand and begun to discuss that which they once considered unthinkable – Irish unification. Even the southern establishment has woken up to the accelerated pace toward whatever interim Ireland we decide among ourselves. Still, the future should eventually be rosy. The no-deal scenario would see an impoverished north clamouring to be readmitted into the EU via a healed island. The impoverished English, tired of this place and the unionists, who so recently humiliated their governing party, would pay to see us go. The EU would be falling over themselves to aid us in the transition period to all-island prosperity. Six fresh counties with an educated, cheaper workforce, improving infrastructure and room for expansion would draw new industry like pallets to a bonfire. All Ulster would have a centre again and could become a power house to rival the affluent belt that surrounds Dublin. A failed Brexit would lead to social turmoil in England as disenfranchised leavers bay for a nationalist option they can guarantee – the break up of the UK and their independence. Even Tory voters have polled their ambivalence toward the loss of Scotland and that fractious, expensive place across the Irish Sea. DUP supporters have seen their MPs slapped down like all pups that bite their master’s hand. How many times must unionists have their noses rubbed in their unrequited love for England before they say enough. The blinkered DUP helped to bury the May deal, an agreement that would have delayed a united Ireland by at least a decade. An arrangement  that would have slowed unification, but given all of us time to transition into a country that finally put the past where it belongs, in the history books. Brexit is breaking down our Berlin wall. The only question now is how much rubble we will have to clear up afterwards.

GERARD HERDMAN


Belfast BT11

Time running out before we reach welfare cliff edge

As our Mps begin their summer recess and our MLAs continue to be absent from the assembly the most vulnerable in our society, those on disability benefits, are less than eight months away from losing more money due to their being no detailed plans as to how the current welfare mitigation package will be extended. Many people will have received a welfare supplementary payment because their DLA was worth more than any PIP they have been awarded, or they may have been a carer and still are, but the person they cared for had their DLA cut with no entitlement to PIP, and rely on the welfare supplementary payment to allow them to continue providing the care they provide. While many are still going through the process of being transitioned from DLA to PIP it is important and life saving that the welfare mitigation money is extended otherwise people will be driven deeper into poverty.

Sinn Fein, DUP and the Alliance party all told us no-one would be forced to pay the bedroom tax, that is fake news. If you take it upon yourself to voluntarily transfer social housing property and don’t gain management transfer status you’ll lose your welfare supplementary payment for the bedroom tax so the mitigation was at best a fig leaf.

We need a NI executive worth the wages they are paid and with less than eight months until we reach the welfare cliff edge, there is little time for the capable politicians, if there are any, to stand up and make change.

GERARD McDONALD


Belfast BT13

Bonfire reasoning

I felt compelled to write in reply to Irish News columnist Allison Morris and her views on various radio shows on Avoniel re the bonfire.

She has pushed the line Belfast City Council “should have compromised after tyres had been removed”. In other words let the boys have there ‘boney’ with the blessing of said council.

Part of her reasoning being there is future work planned at Avoniel. She believes the ‘boney’ will move elsewhere – to some other council property Allison?

She also made light of the council asking PSNI to look at prosecuting trespassers on the site: “Maybe they will prosecute me”, she said, “for being on site”.

Over the last weeks she made no mention of the public who felt unable to use the centre; no mention of the staff who felt unable to work, gates locked and UVF flags etc flying on site. Allison questioned why the council waited so long to get this issue sorted.

Belfast City councillors have already made clear they have tried to engage in talks with these ‘bony’ builders’ spokesmen but they always refused to engage until the last three or four weeks when council had their action plan made.

EAMONN CAREW


Belfast BT5

Taoiseach’s contemptible remarks

Regarding Leo Varadkar’s remarks about the priesthood. Coming from a man in his position I think they were contemptible and should not be tolerated.

He fails to remember the Catholic Church has helped many countries when their people were suffering from hunger and starvation. Many of our good priests have also given their lives in these countries, just as they did in our own country during the time of the persecution. Most of the Irish people are proud of the Catholic Church and her priests.


Leo Varadkar’s apology is unacceptable.

MARIE LIVINGSTONE


Portadown, Co Armagh

Not thrilled at von der Leyen’s appointment

THE appointment of Ursula von der Leyen as the new European Commission president has left me with an anxious feeling. In 2014, she broke a German military taboo by supplying arms to Iraqi Kurdish forces. The EU Commission has learned lessons from President Donald Trump in power and their dependence on the US to sort out their affairs. The EU’s continued policy of seeking to integrate member states’ armed forces should concern all of us who would promote conflict resolution through diplomacy and not the threat of war.

It is my belief that Ms Von der Leyen’s appointment to head the commission will not assist us in this.

PAUL DORAN


Clondalkin, Dublin 22