Opinion

Alex, the question of a border poll is done and dusted

I think Alex Kane is behind the curve on a border poll (June 2). 

Under the Good Friday or Belfast Agreement (GFBA) section 1(i) observes that the British and Irish governments will: ‘recognise the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland’.

The people of Northern Ireland freely exercised their choice during the June 2016 referendum on UK membership of the EU when they voted to break with Great Britain and remain in the EU.

The border poll is done and dusted.

Confusion seems to arise among some commentators, such as Alex, over how or when a border poll may be called as set out in a later Annexe.

However, even there Schedule 1(1) simply states that the ‘Secretary of State may by order direct the holding of a poll for the purposes of section 1 on a date specified in the order’.

Under the convention of collective cabinet/ministerial responsibility James Brokenshire did indeed call for a border poll in Northern Ireland under the terms of the GFBA as part of the broader UK referendum on membership of the EU. While Britain voted to leave the EU the people of Northern Ireland exercised their choice to remain in the EU.

The only part of the UK where the outcome of that border poll is legally binding is in Northern Ireland because the GFBA is an international treaty between two member states of the EU and so subject to its overall legal framework.

The reason why it is legally binding is that when the UK and Republic joined the EU (EEC) during 1973 they both claimed jurisdiction over Northern Ireland and they then reconciled these competing claims through the auspices of the GFBA which, as stated above, gave the choice to the people of Northern Ireland.  

It is precisely because the people freely chose to remain in the EU that the EU has placed Northern Ireland front and centre in the Brexit negotiations with Westminster.

Schedule 1(2) of the Annexe simply clarifies when a border poll leading to a united Ireland should be initiated, which is a different animal altogether.

I think the EU now has to decide how to accede to the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland to remain in the EU. Northern Ireland either remains as an independent state within the EU or, subject to a further border poll, it could choose to merge with the Republic.

However, if we look across the pond to the US we can see a precedent in North Carolina and South Carolina where member states chose to keep their distance.

BERNARD J MULHOLLAND


Belfast BT9

God isn’t to blame for world’s woes, mankind is

Stephen Fry would have thanked his lucky stars, if not God for not being burned at the stake for blaspheming God on Irish television. One irate viewer was so offended by Fry saying God was a stupid maniac and responsible for all the world’s ills, he made a complaint to the police.  


The ensuing garda investigation was soon wound up when no-one else complained. No, it’s not a joke, it really happened. There is a funny side to the story though. Blasphemy is enshrined in the Irish Constitution under the Defamation Act of 2009. Considering that the last known prosecution for blasphemy in Ireland happened in 1855 you have to wonder how or why it was written into the Defamation Act in the first place.

Consideration should have been to investigating Gay Byrne, it was him who asked Fry, who was a guest on his TV show if he believed in God.


Byrne knew perfectly well that Fry did not believe in God and that he would say something controversial. For an unbeliever Stephen Fry blames everything that’s wrong with the world on God, even suggesting that God gives little children bone cancer. The world is in a bad way, no doubt about it, but I disagree with Fry, God isn’t responsible for it, mankind is. That means you, me, all of us are to blame. To quote Irish-born politician and philosopher Edmund Burne: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

God heralded this beautiful world into existence with a big bang. The way things are looking it will go out the same way, if people allow stupid maniacs like Donald Trump to take power. If humility doesn’t catch itself on a time will come when there will be nobody left to say the famous last words “Is there anybody there?”.

SEAN MASKEY


Belfast BT15

Workers’ rights will suffer most from Brexit

As we head towards another general election brought on by Theresa May and the Tory government can I point out some very important facts to the electorate here.

This election was called by the Tories because opinion falls after the local government elections convinced them they could return to Westminster with a greater majority.

We have no control over who is in government in London. Our votes are irrelevant to the two main parties in The House of Commons. However, we still have decisions to make that may benefit us. We voted once against leaving the EU. Our rights were ignored. Now we have a chance to send that message again, let’s make it loud


and clear.

As a lifelong trade unionist my main concern about Brexit is the rights of workers. We are the backbone of everyday life, yet we suffer the most on all fronts.

Workers’ rights were hard fought for but under European legislation they were enshrined in law.  The Tories want to remove a lot of this legislation. Locally they have the support of the DUP, TUV and PBP.

Brexit has many inflections for us, most of which we don’t even know yet. What I do know is that if our rights as workers are diluted or removed some of us run the risk of not coming home at the end of our shift.

As a union representative I don’t want to fight for compensation for people injured or killed at work.


I’m calling on workers to stand up for your rights and show those who think your health and safety is not important that if workers’ rights are not protected then the political parties who ignore your rights, don’t get your vote.

PAT NEESON


Belfast BT12

Bring back death penalty

The quality of government people hope for depends on the honesty of budding politicians who pledge to improve living standards and control criminality.

Now the greatest crime must be taking another person’s life and I am old enough to remember that those who committed murder paid for their crime with their life.

Ian Brady got a life sentence for the murder of several innocent children. He showed no mercy or regret. He cost the taxpayer millions.

The vile ferociousness, of today’s murderer knows no bounds. Other people’s lives mean nothing to them. They know they will be walking free some time. Surely the time has come to bring back the death penalty for murder.

HARRY STEPHENSON


Kircubbin, Co Down

Lesser of two evils not a choice

Unbeknown to the distracted public, the British government are pushing through regulation which threatens encryption of secure websites and Garda Siochana have been outed by The Irish Independent as having tapped into public phone calls. People in Northern Ireland are being made to choose between two surveillance states. The lesser of two evils is not really a choice.

DESMOND DEVLIN


Ardboe, Co Tyrone