I couldn’t help but be amused with the hallucinated themes of former tánaiste Michael McDowell’s contributions on the issue of a united Ireland post Brexit.
Dear Michael thinks that the connection between Britain leaving the EU and the six counties rejoining the EU in a united Ireland form, after an unspecified time line on holding a border poll is ludicrous? Not because there is no set time for a border poll but because he thinks this concept is pie in the sky.
Certainly the man is entitled to his opinion but reflecting on his assumptions, he should apologise for making such denounced and contrived statements.
The very fact that Enda Kenny and Micheal Martin have been cajoled into mentioning the prospect of a united Ireland in the future has to be applauded even though neither of them ever did anything but placate and sustain partitionist views and ideologies within their own political theocratic dimensions.
Of course Sinn Féin is the constant worry for them in the past, present and future and that’s the only reason they’re being prodded into making utterances they’re not entirely comfortable with.
It is no shock that Michael McDowell possesses negative thoughts in relation to fulfilling the republican theory of uniting both parts of this unlawfully divided state, but that doesn’t mean his word should have the same impact or conviction as a judge handing down a verdict on a particular matter.
Mr McDowell did make a prediction that I would feel comfortable in agreeing with and that is that unification will come about in stages following on from a successful border poll result. But his scenario of a federalist partnership that involves different strands of dual ownership and loyalty would only confuses and prolong any decisive decision making.
The fact is that demographic change is afoot and what were once little confined nationalist enclaves are spreading their wings and roots geographical, politically and educationally, while the once contrived majority of unionism is on the wane throughout the six counties.
This reality will become more apparent in the years ahead where moderate unionists including those with a ‘discreet republican mindset’ will seamlessly participate in a staged unification that will benefit them as Irish citizens or if they prefer dual Irish/British citizenship, either way it will be better for their children and their children’s children in providing belonging, peace and stability of mind.
JAMES WOODS
Gort an Choirce,
Dun na nGall
People should speak out over scandalous waste
It seems to me that ‘real taxpayers’ should shout from the roof tops about the scandalous waste which goes on in Northern Ireland. ‘Real taxpayers’ are those who run businesses, create wealth and pay taxes on that created wealth.
Taxpayers, on the other hand, take real taxpayers’ tax as wages and then give back a portion, ie that is their ‘tax contribution’.
Look at the waste which we have seen over the last few years. Here are some examples: Energy from waste, after years of study and many visits to successful sites throughout Europe, the Belfast Project was rejected by all – Sinn Féin on totally illogical grounds and a few others – despite the very substantial financial and other benefits to everyone in Belfast, particularly those living in north Belfast; the rejection by Sinn Féin of the merger of the two teacher training colleges to reduce duplication and costly wastage; the continuing blight of barriers throughout Belfast is so wasteful of young lives and their opportunities. No-one is in charge of the Peace Walls’ project. The process continues to waffle in the swamp of no overall responsibility, while many good people work at street level.
What is Sinn Féin about emanding a detailed inquiry into the RHI debacle without clarifying the budget? Presumably the former minister of finance (a business man) knows that process will take a considerable period to complete, with significant legal costs added to the scandal.
The politicians harp on about austerity (caused by others) when we have plenty of examples of local costly incompetence. Need I go on?
We need more people who see this waste to raise their voices. We have often been accused of being far too comfortable with substandard subsidised lifestyle.
TOM EKIN
Belfast BT9
EU doesn’t have best interests of Ireland at heart
Michel Barnier, EU Brexit negotiator with Britain (not Ireland) addressed both houses of the Oireachtas on a silly invitation by a docile Dáil, in the childish hope that somehow the EU has Ireland’s best interests at heart.
It should be obvious after 40 years in thrall to Brussels, Berlin and Paris, that this country has lost its independence, willingly, to this dictatorship.
Enda Kenny and his kitchen cabinet have absolutely no say in anything, only to be used by the EU dictatorship against Britain.
A ‘hardening’ of the Irish border will be strictly imposed by Brussels and not by the UK. We are seen only as a weapon to use against Britain, which in the short term and beyond, will be to our huge cost. All of this could be easily avoided with simple agreements between the UK and Republic, but this will not be allowed to happen when the EU has all but declared war on Britain.
We are reminded that when we voted against the Nice and Lisbon Treaties, the so-called democrats of the EU ‘leadership’ asked if the Irish were “stupid”?
We’ll be whatever you want us to be, Mr Barnier, just instruct our own ‘leaders’ as to your demands, as you encourage us to abandon our closest friend and ally.
ROBERT SULLIVAN
Bantry, Co Cork
Britain shows true colours
The reviled Margaret Thatcher once said murder is murder is murder and she knew all about that. Today we have goody two shoes Theresa May and her cohorts waiting to pass legislation excusing all British soldiers from prosecution against any murders they may have committed on active service. It seems they also want to extend this amnesty to members of the RUC and UDR who served in Northern Ireland. This of course would cover the Glenanne gang as many of them were in the UDR or RUC or the reserves. Will they go further and excuse all British paid informers working for the government ie Stakeknife and others?
Do they intend to stop looking for ex-Nazis and those involved in atrocities in the Balkan wars or Syria?
Or are they as we all know once again proving how anti-Irish, anti-republican they really are?
JOSEPH KENNEDY
Dunmurry, Co Antrim
GFA gives people right to self identify
SEAMUS Haran (May 2) says that there are two quite different communities in Northern Ireland – one consisting of the indigenous population and the other composed of British colonists, as if there exists in Northern Ireland two distinct and homogeneous groups of people who can be identified and labelled as such.
The Good Friday Agreement (GFA) recognises the right of all people in Northern Ireland to self identify as Irish or British or both and to be accepted as they so choose.
It is unrealistic and naive to talk about indigenous or colonists.
RONNIE McQUILLAN
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
