Mr Feeney’s only sport seems to be ‘poking the British bear’
Many people basked in the visit of the US President to the island of Ireland – me, not so much. What is true, is that Mr Feeney is a political Victor Meldrew, whose only sport is to ‘poke the British bear’.
Firstly, I do not believe for a single minute that Biden pressed Sunak to get the institutions up and running. Sunak knows very well the importance of this, for both political stability and economic prosperity. Just to remind all you US sycophants, look across the pond if you want to see a polarised electorate and dysfunctional political system.
The president’s visit to Belfast was quite frankly a bit of diplomatic tokenism.
This is how it should have played out. Go straight to Dublin, do his official duties and then glad-hand his array of 15th cousins three times removed. Wax lyrically about his Irishness and show his deep knowledge of Irish rugby. After which, I would have thought that the diplomatic protocol would have called on Joe to travel to London (the capital of the other country who were a signatory to the Belfast Agreement). From there, both he and Rishi would travel to Belfast together to celebrate 25 years of post-peace inertia.
During Joe’s imaginary ‘two-day’ visit, both could have then visited the new UU campus and Det Chief Inspector Caldwell. Now, a joint visit to see DCI Caldwell would have been a good photo op and sent a clear message that violence plays no part in the province’s future. Brian’s beef seems to be that the optics of the Northern Ireland leg of Joe’s visit were poor. I agree. That is down to the collective failure of both the diplomatic corps and not just the Brits, as Brian would have you believe. Regarding the Tories, yes, they may well be insane about sovereignty but about the union, not so much, or did Brian not hear Heaton-Harris? Regarding the US-led investment boom, quite frankly we have heard it all before.
In respect of John Major being a ‘bit upset’ at Bill Clinton giving Gerry a visa in January 1994 – well, he may have had grounds. Major had just completed the Downing Street Declaration with Albert Reynolds in December 1993. The IRA campaign continued. In October 1993 alone, there were two IRA bombs in London, two RUC officers were shot dead, there was the Shankill bombing and a Protestant construction worker was targeted and shot doing work for the RUC. Add to that, the secret talks between the British government and the IRA were revealed and loyalist paramilitaries were causing their very own carnage – we all remember Greysteel. It would be fair to say he had a lot on his mind.
George Mitchell’s speech was the highlight of the 25-year celebration, and he was right to say that, in the art of political compromise, no-one gets 100 per cent.
Just to remind Brian, Sinn Féin brought down Stormont for three years over the Irish language, though I will concede that two wrongs do not make a right. Finally, Mr Feeney continues to dress up his partisan political narratives and analysis as some sort of political insight. We have many challenges around building a future for the coming generations. The question is, anything to say about that?
SUNEIL SHARMA
Belfast BT8
Sympathy for the DUP is limited
It is difficult not to have some sympathy for the DUP. Their recklessness, arrogance and incompetence, their acceptance of £1bn from Theresa May, being conned by Johnson and their naive devotion to false prophets has finally come to a head and they must now make a decision. They must decide whether to accept the protocol and a Sinn Féin First Minister or be blamed for massive cuts in public expenditure. For the DUP, this is a lose-lose situation.
The decision to support Brexit was reckless and taken without any debate within the party. The impact it would have on agriculture and the economy was never considered. The final part of the Withdrawal Agreement signed in January 2020 was designed to protect the all-island economy and the Good Friday Agreement and to safeguard the integrity of the EU single market. Initially Arlene Foster seemed to reluctantly accept the agreement but, under pressure from Sammy Wilson and TUV leader Jim Allister, decided to oppose the deal.
The protocol will not be abolished. It has the support of a majority of MLAs, virtually unanimous endorsement at Westminster as well as the full backing of the EU and the US Congress, and is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of the single market. I do not see the dilemma being resolved before the elections. In fact, the decision of the party to set up a panel to consider the revised protocol would appear to be a delaying tactic. The composition of the panel may indicate the final decision, as it does not include hardliners like Wilson and Paisley but does feature two former party leaders, Robinson and Foster.
Their inclusion would seem to be a smart decision by Donaldson as he is no doubt aware previous unionist leaders who accepted UK Government policy were all overthrown by more hardline leaders (Trimble, Faulkner, Chichester-Clarke, O’Neill). The support of two former leaders would help Donaldson sell any decision to accept the protocol to party members.
I believe the DUP will reluctantly agree to accept the Windsor Framework after the election.
This will create conflict within the party and perhaps a split or loss of members to TUV. My sympathy is limited as it is merely a case of chickens coming home to roost.
BRIAN WILSON
Bangor, Co Down
Live animal exports are unnecessary
NEW Zealand is banning the export of live animals by sea.
The ban is in response to huge public opposition to this vile trade which involves farm animals undertaking long sea journeys in Dickensian conditions to overseas markets.
As for Ireland, government policy of supporting and developing a live animal exports trade means the Department of Agriculture is prepared to throw Ireland’s animal welfare reputation, gossamer thin as it is, under the farm gate.
Around Ireland, farm animals are being rounded up for export to European and non-European countries.
Animals are stamped as cargo to be manhandled and hauled from farm to livestock mart, to lorry to livestock ship, to foreign slaughterhouse, as chattels rather than sentient creatures.
Live animal exports are unnecessary. They represent a historical attitude to animal welfare and a refusal by the farming community to embrace modern thinking both in terms of animal welfare and economic reality.
JOHN TIERNEY
Waterford Animal Concern
Best wishes Marie Louise
I would like to pay a special tribute to Marie Louise McConville for her brilliant accounts in The Irish News. I found her writings inspiring and extremely interesting. She and her husband are excellent parents. I wish her all the best in her new career.
DYMPNA McCLUSKEY
Ballymoney, Co Antrim
