Arlene Foster’s resignation will trigger nominations for her post and that of deputy first minister in the executive. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether Sinn Féin will nominate without guarantees on Irish language legislation. A failure to nominate would trigger an early election to the assembly.
What should Sinn Féin do? Other political parties have suggested that other more pressing needs have to be addressed and that it would be unconscionable for Sinn Féin not to nominate on the basis of Irish language rights when there are more pressing needs such as waiting lists etc.
Hindsight has shown that Sinn Féin failed to capitalise on its support in the last free state election.
The DUP is suggesting that if a majority of unionists are elected in the next assembly election that they can get rid of the Brexit protocol.
This is disingenuous because the reality is that if a unionist majority was elected it would only be able to get rid of certain articles of the protocol and not the protocol itself. However, it is clear that the DUP seeks to use this as a rallying cry to repair the damage that it has inflicted on itself in its support of Brexit.
The removal of Arlene Foster has created disarray within the DUP and allied to what unionists blame the DUP for in relation to the protocol, some might think that an early election would not be in the interests of the DUP. Does Sinn Féin realise that an early election might put it in the position of electing the first minister?
Will the party replicate the mistake that it made in the free state?
How true will that party be to ensuring the implementation of Irish language rights that Sammy Wilson described on BBC’s The View programme as a minor cultural issue? It is so minor that the DUP has strongly resisted its implementation to date. The truth of the matter is that Sinn Féin will suit its own interests first, regardless of those who elect it. The party is bankrupt when it comes to promoting the goal of Irish unity. By the way, I am not a member of the Irish Market Research Agency. Can you believe me? Yes, I am not a member of Sinn Féin.
SEAN O’FIACH
Belfast BT11
Totally bemused
Having read John Cushnahan’s reply (June 3) several times regarding our previous correspondence I remain totally bemused. Firstly he stated I falsely accused him that his source of information about the late IRA volunteer Seamus McIlwaine was Arlene Foster. He specifically mentioned her as his source but now claims his source was Wikipedia. If he takes the time to check Wikipedia (which he never previously mentioned), it specifically states it is not totally reliable. Does he realise I could edit his own Wikipedia page? Is he aware the majority of the allegations about Seamus on Wikipedia came from a 2016 Arlene Foster interview?
He totally fudges my question comparing the objectives of Seamus McIwaine and Michael Collins by stating no credible scholars of Irish history would agree with me. Who these credible historians are I know not. Has John ever researched Michael Collins’s involvement in taking out the Cairo Gang? He then washes his hands of the Fine Gael myth that Michael Collins was a founding member, as he is only accountable since he joined the party. Will he now request this blatant untruth be removed from Fine Gael’s official website?
I’ll ignore John’s talk of how Fine Gael practically fixed everything single-handed in the six counties from 1985 onwards. He claims there have been a number of IRA murders since the Good Friday Agreement - not even a need for Diplock courts as far as John is concerned. He fails to mention – never mind prove – what these alleged murders were. I’ll check Wikipedia for confirmation of his assertions.
There appears to be a strange conservative wind blowing in Munster judging by John’s claims and that of his Cork neighbour and regular contributor Robert Sullivan, who considers Boris to be the greatest since Churchill. Both also use the terminology “Northern Ireland”, which many of John’s former neighbours find offensive. I sincerely hope John read the Rev David Latimer’s enlightening letter (June 4) about his knowledge of and friendship with Martin McGuinness. It was factually based on their 10-year association and not something he read about on social media.
TOMÁS Ó DUBHAGÁIN
Belfast BT11
What version of history will new envoy portray?
The Rev David Clements (June 10) portrays the new special envoy to the US, Trevor Ringland, as some kind of crusader who will enlighten our American friends about our history here in the north.
That’s where a problem arises. What version of history would Mr Ringland reveal to them?
Would it be the usual whitewashed one we are all too familiar with on the pages of this paper, or would it be what actually happened – in other words, the truth?
Will he reveal the ‘Protestant parliament for a Protestant people’ rhetoric and the ditching of three counties to ensure a sectarian unionist majority? Do you think he will acknowledge the decades of bigotry and gerrymandering and the discrimination over jobs and housing inflicted on the Catholic minority?
Will he mention the attacks on the civil rights marchers and burning of nationalist homes by Paisleyite mobs, as the sectarian RUC stood by and did nothing?
He states that the unionist voice is rarely heard in the US but after 100 years of disgraceful misrule, maybe it is best left that way. The Rev Clements can claim many things in common with our new envoy, but I hope that a denial of the truth is not one of them.
J DIAMOND
Coleraine, Co Derry
Disgraceful resolution
I read about Belfast City Council’s proposed boycott of Israel with anger and disgust. Such behaviour is expected from the lunatic fringe but for Sinn Féin and the SDLP to support this thinly disguised anti-Semitic proposal is appalling. I recognise how passionately some support the Palestinian cause but to give up their computers and smartphones, all of which have Israeli software and firmware built in, is an impressive sacrifice. Boycotting an orange is one thing but I wonder how many will give up their electronics in solidarity with Hamas?
PETER McKEOWN
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
