Opinion

Border poll debate here to stay

LONG tailbacks on the main Belfast to Dublin road this week were a stark reminder of the reality of the border.

They were also a vivid illustration of the different approaches taken by Dublin and Belfast to tackling rising coronavirus infection rates across the island.

With the Republic moving to Level 5 restrictions, which allow only essential travel and trips within 5 kilometres of a person's home, drivers were stopped by gardaí at checkpoints to establish the nature of their journey - and whether they should be allowed to continue or turned back to Northern Ireland.

There is no similar policing operation in the north, though schools are closed, public worship is allowed and so-called 'non-essential retail' is still open; in the south, schools are open but churches are closed and all but essential shops shut.

This raises questions of how useful it is for the two jurisdictions to pursue divergent coronavirus strategies - a coordinated all-island approach would surely be more sensible, for a range of reasons.

The contrasting restrictions have introduced real practical challenges. These are keenly felt in Lifford and Strabane, Derry and its Donegal hinterland, and numerous other communities where crossing the border was a hitherto completely unremarkable part of daily life.

If the Good Friday Agreement helped open the border, there have been legitimate concerns that the Brexit process could close it, at least partially, again.

This is one of the reasons that Brexit re-energised the conversation around a united Ireland and the timing of a border poll.

In this context, details of Taoiseach Micheál Martin's Shared Island Unit have been eagerly awaited.

Mr Martin made clear he is taking a cautious and pragmatic approach, and emphasised that he is "not going to increase momentum towards a border poll"; he wants to persuade, not cajole.

Pledging €500 million for cross-border infrastructure projects, the taoiseach said that he wanted to dialogue with unionists who, he said, were "fundamental to our shared future".

In a rare intervention, former DUP leader Peter Robinson said unionists should not ignore the border poll debate.

Writing in the News Letter yesterday, Mr Robinson said unionists should prepare an "evidence-based case" for the union.

Whether unionism's current leadership is willing to conduct such a reasoned argument remains to be seen.

It is, however, essential that unionists are fully involved in any future 'shared island' initiatives - and that nationalists also back up their arguments with evidence.