Opinion

Unionism versus unity

Northern Ireland Unionism, with a capital ‘U’, apparently aspires to a tight and indissoluble political and economic union with GB/UK to the exclusion of the Republic of Ireland and the EU, but without loss of the devolved autonomy given to and abused by NI unionists since 1921.

Such autonomy was not extended to Scotland and Wales until 1999 as an integral element of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which was opposed by NI unionists. So, unionists want autonomy for themselves but not for any other part of the UK, while demanding parity with the rest of the UK in relation to the EU and ‘the protocol’?


Prime minister Theresa May’s EU deal would have given the rest of the UK beneficial parity with NI, but unionists rejected it.

Irish nationalists and republicans aspire to unity on the island of Ireland. Does that necessarily exclude any form of mutually beneficial unity with the UK or the EU? Clearly not. The Republic of Ireland (RoI) and UK were in union through the EU until Brexit, supported by NI unionists, broke that union.

What are the aspirations of NI unionists with a small ‘u’? Do they exclude any form of mutually beneficial unity with the RoI or the EU? Clearly not. As the majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, that majority must have included many unionists.

So, where is the united voice of unionists and nationalists aspiring to a mutually beneficial unity of the peoples of these islands?

Such unity cannot be in the form of a UK in its original or present concept, which arguably was never mutually beneficial, the south of Ireland having left to become the Republic of Ireland and Scotland being on the verge of leaving.

The framework of a forum for mutually beneficial unity exists in the British-Irish Council (BIC) element of the GFA which contains provision for an English parliament/assembly that could obviously replace the Westminster/UK government. The constituent members of the BIC would then be on an equal basis.

So, where is the united voice of unionists and nationalists championing the full development and implementation of the BIC as a Council/Assembly of the Isles?

Should that be the role of the Alliance Party?

Do we need a new cross-community party dedicated to the BIC?

Can there be a coalition or alliance of unionist and nationalist parties to that end?

In the absence of a NI initiative, the catalyst for necessary change would be Scottish secession from the UK, there then no longer being a UK.

Can there be a coalition of unionist and nationalist parties in NI and Scotland to effect mutually beneficial change?

DENNIS GOLDEN


Strabane, Co Tyrone

Change in society seen as something to fear

Mr Garland – ‘Good Friday Agreement has failed to deliver’ (January 12) – sees few signs of success in the outworking of the Good Friday Agreement. He concludes that the GFA hasn’t worked. He is not alone in this view – many say it should be returned to ‘the factory floor’, as it is in need of repair; others, that it is beyond repair. The ‘machine’ analogy is interesting in that it reflects a device with components but the GFA is not a machine, it is a living document meant to deliver strategies which better reflect how we work together as a society. To me the act is predicted on principles, assumptions if you like, such as priority of esteem, inclusion, a genuine embracing of difference in our lives. It is on these the GFA is rooted. Without these, by refusing to accept the outworking of the act, becomes clogged up, clumsy.

I recall Mr Martin McGuinness saying that he was so confident in his republican identity, that he could see no occasion where those of a different identity would be a threat to him. Confident about who he was and what he was, prepared to meet others who differed from him on an even footing.

Unionist thinking, especially within the DUP, represents the antithesis of the underpinning principles of the GFA and indeed how the likes of Mr McGuinness placed himself. Anything, anything that represents change is minutely examined through the ‘threat to our identity’ prism. Change in society is not seen as dynamic but something to fear. I believe unionists and loyalists have been successful in getting politicians to talk about anything other than the elephant in the room, that is, genuinely accepting parity of esteem, seeing inclusion as a good thing, embracing difference.

I can empathise with Mr Garland’s frustration. However, I would suggest that he examine the track record of those governments and parties when it comes to being faithful to the founding principles of the Good Friday Agreement.

MANUS McDAID


Derry City

Gratuitously insulting remarks

The story – ‘New TV comedy accused of taking ‘cheap shot’ at IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands’ (February 2) – was properly given front page prominence for the outrageous insult to his memory. It was delivered in a TV comedy penned by Irish writer Emma Moran and gratuitously broadcast by Disney+.

The offending remark has been tellingly and accurately described by Danny Morrison as ‘totally disrespectful’.

To even make such a reference ignores the pain and suffering of his family and the entire nationalist community.

The same offensive piece also carried a gratuitously insulting use of the name of another prisoner – an aspect of the item which appears to have overlooked.

This prisoner, in the presence of his mother, was tortured to death by the Roman authorities during their occupation of Palestine.

I am also appalled at the total disrespect shown in this production to that other prisoner, and worse that it even makes such a reference – thereby ignoring His pain and suffering and that of His mother Mary and the entire Christian community.

PADHRAIG Mac CAMLAIGH


Belfast BT9

Investors should not be involved in forest plans

Ireland with its mild, temperate Oceanic climate (warmed by the Gulf Stream) is ideal for indigenous afforestation.

Yet deforestation over the past 1,000 years has reduced Irish native forest to just 1 per cent of the total land area. The current forest cover in Ireland remains at less than 12 per cent, well below the EU average. This is lamentable.

In April 2021, Coillte unveiled a plan to rapidly expand afforestation in its obligatory climate mitigation strategy. Now we are informed that thousands of acres are expected to be sold to vulture funds in a land deal.

How will this investor proposal integrate or promote that Coillte plan? It will not. It is a sell-off of the country’s resources like the Rossport giveaway and the EU factory ships off our coast displacing our indigenous fishermen.

The Irish people must resist this latest threat in the sell-off of our resources.

MICHEÁL MacAONGHUSA


Baile Átha Cliath 2