Opinion

People outside of Sinn Féin has little or no interest in united Ireland

Exhaustive arguments have waged about bringing about a united Ireland and they should be brought to an end for one very practicable reason – the public outside Sinn Féin and the IRA in all their shapes and forms has very little or no interest in it. It’s an old chestnut and too old at this stage. Politicians are by and large there to maintain the status quo, which means partition, and get their fringe benefits while enjoying the limelight. Our politicians across the border are brilliant at serving their own cynical interests and not anything as grand as a united Ireland. They have no ideology, no vision, no direction, no improvement, just a continuation of where the previous gang were in terms of the salaries, perks and golden pensions.

Outside the academic columns and letters in newspapers about a united Ireland, the enthusiasm for one just does not seem to be there at all. Most of the young people today bury their heads in a mobile phone year on year and just want a good job if they can get it. Older people are more concerned with their pensions and health, than anything to do with constitutional questions.

What happened in Northern Ireland during the bad days of the Troubles was not a quest for a united Ireland, but a civil rights movement. There is no united Ireland movement and arguably there never was if one steps back and looks carefully.

Yes, there was a nationalist movement for independence, but it lacked any cohesion and was doomed to fail. Conversely, the British lost all interest in a united Ireland too as they pulled out of the Republic and left it in the hands of a small number of men at Dublin Castle to take it from there. It was taken   and basically handed over to the Catholic Church which ruled it with an iron fist. They even went so far as to put a provision in its since amended 1937 Constitution giving it a ‘special position’. A position which ensured a united Ireland would never come about, plus an ad hoc state apparatus which saw tens of thousands emigrate to foreign shores, as they still do today.

The truth of the situation with Brexit if it all goes sour is that ironically the Republic may have to re-enter the United Kingdom to survive economically.

If the Republic wants a united Ireland, which is very doubtful, then it will have to raise its game dramatically like getting rid of its two-tier private-patient-first system and break up the monopolies who fix prices in one of the most expensive countries to live in anywhere in Europe.

Discussion of a united Ireland in the meantime is purely academic because of a lack of sufficient interest in the venture at both sides of the border.

MAURICE FITZGERALD


Shanbally, Co Cork

It’s a mystery GPs cannot assess frightened people with seasonal coughs

I was interested  interested to read the suggestion that the Covid assessment centre in Altnagelvin was like a “war zone”.

People might be entitled to wonder whether that might be connected to the fact that the GP surgeries across the city, where the triage of problems not requiring hospital assessment should be taking place, are by contrast a veritable haven of peace and tranquility.

I worked for almost 30 years in a busy urban practice, in a socio-economically deprived area of Derry. Our waiting area was like a war zone most days, especially at this time of year, and the dozen or so other surgeries across the city were no different.

But in GP-land, only maybe one or two patients out of 100 or more consultations per average week needed to go to hospital for same-day investigation or treatment. Most could be safely managed in their communities, investigated locally and treatment and support arranged if necessary. Covid, for some inexplicable reason changed all that. That GPs cannot assess by examination ill and frightened people with seasonal coughs is a mystery to me. Does PPE not work?

Many people cannot access help at all in the community, and for reasons which are incompletely understood, but almost certainly related, deaths at home from treatable causes are increasing alarmingly.

This sad state of affairs is of course not the fault of health service staff, but because of what I consider to be irrational decisions, unsupported by science, made by managers and their ‘expert’ advisers.

This dystopian arrangement is costing lives, and will continue to


do so.

We know so much more about Covid now than we did when these policies were implemented in March. The curve was flattened, yet here we are, seven months later doing the same things, when we could safely do so much better for the people for whom we are tasked to care.

ANNE McCLOSKEY, MB


Waterside, Derry City

Exercise has many benefits

As someone involved in sport, I am asking that you please do what you can to see that all sport returns to some sort of normality after this four-week period. The NHS Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children has the following on their website: “There’s loads of evidence which shows exercise is an important key to reducing our risk of major illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

“Research also shows that regular physical activity can boost our self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, making us less prone to stress, depression and dementia.”

It goes on to say that regular exercise has lots of health benefits for children and young people, such as among other things – providing an opportunity to socialise.

It appears that for so many of us who are not elite, we are being discriminated against.

REV ROBERT N ORR


Castlederg, Co Derry

Restrictions make no sense

We are in a very serious situation with the coronavirus and a bleak Christmas lies ahead. However, the restrictions don’t make sense. There is no problem with hotels and hairdressers. They are well organised. The problem is with house parties. Since there are so many irresponsible people we have a duty to report them. These people have no regard for those on the front line.

 T KELLY


Draperstown, Co Derry

Appeal for transparency

I had planned to go walking on this long weekend with our family. That in the interests of social solidarity won’t be happening. I am tired of hearing tennis and golf players moaning how they are different and want to be allowed to continue.


No we are in this together.

The government in the Republic should be a lot more transparent and every village, town and city should know what cases there are so we can act. I appeal for more transparency.

Together we are stronger.

PAUL DORAN


Dublin 22