Gavin Robinson’s call on the unionist parties to engage in some soul searching about a border poll is a welcome development. In the light of Sinn Féin’s decision to welcome the Brits back to the north, it may cause some embarrassment for republicans. Things have changed in Northern Ireland and there is no going back to what it was before.
First, Catholics have reached a level of equality where ‘institutional discrimination’ has all but disappeared. The side effect of this, something SF never expected, is that we are perfectly happy here and for most of us the border is not an issue. It is like the ‘will-of-the-wisp’ – it has disappeared from view. Nationalist people here know that we have much more in common with our unionist neighbour than we have with the Free Staters.
Secondly, Brexit has changed the UK for ever. Little Englanders rule the roost and a border has materialised somewhere in the midst of the Irish Sea. We are semi-detached members of the UK and almost, but not quite, Irish. On top of all this, nobody quite wants us.
Little Englanders were going to get out of Europe and if we had to be cut off then so be it – Ireland was staying in and if we had to be unwanted partners then again, so be it.
Gavin Robinson’s chatter about the border poll misses the point. At the time of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement David Ervine said something unionism cannot countenance: “We must make Northern Ireland a place where Catholics want to live.”
So far the DUP is not up to this task. It has never dawned on them that the best way to secure the union is to treat Catholics as equals.
If unionism is serious about making Northern Ireland a better place then here is one simple example that would make a big difference. Have one day of marching to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne, one day to celebrate ‘NI Day’ and make it a festival. No bonfires, sectarian bands and a ban on anti-Catholic slogans.
Why does it took almost five months from Easter Monday to the Last Saturday to display triumphalism? Address these types of questions, Gavin and we will begin to take you seriously.
TURLOUGH QUINN
Portglenone, Co Antrim
Alcohol not a necessity for society’s wellbeing
At the start of the pandemic both Westminster and Stormont announced they would be banning off-licence sales as non-essential. Almost immediately the alcohol industry announced their intention to donate a large amount of alcohol, to provide hand sanitiser. Within a few days both London and Belfast governments announced that they had changed their minds and off licences could remain open. The easy availability of alcohol has been a serious impediment to fighting the pandemic ever since. Off-licence sales are fuelling virus transmission among younger people as well as providing a damaging addictive crutch to many who are fearful. In the last nine months alcohol sales in NI increased by 70 per cent on the same period in 2019. Given that nearly all was purchased at the cheaper price charged by off-licences it corresponds to about a doubling of alcohol consumption during lockdown. Future health consequences are inevitable.
I have led an addiction support group for more than 20 years so I know what drink does. Closing off-licences at the earlier hour of 8pm is a cosmetic exercise and has virtually no effect on alcohol sales or house parties. Just before the pandemic one in four of all NI hospital beds were occupied by people suffering from addiction related health issues. No surprise that beds are scarce in our hospitals. On Friday and Saturday nights 80 per cent of those attending hospital emergency departments were there because of addiction issues. Often their behaviour was threatening and abusive to staff and frightening to other patients. This is a major reason why Emergency Departments cannot fill vacancies for staff.
Stormont recently launched a Bill to further extend opening hours for pubs and clubs. The effect will be to further increase alcohol consumption. Most political parties have already indicated their support for it. Alcohol is not a necessity for the wellbeing of society. It is a poisonous drug, responsible for more deaths than all other drugs put together. Alcohol and house parties have been one of the most important super spreaders of It’s past time for our leaders in Stormont to show courage and close off-licences, too many lives have already been lost because of alcohol.
ROBERT BECKETT
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
Superficial analysis of partition doesn’t stand up to scrutiny
Partition was imposed on Ireland by a British government not to prevent civil war as Trevor Ringland (January 22) would have us believe but to maintain control of the most industrialised part of Ireland and by extension the rest of Ireland. They were determined to stop Ireland becoming a democratic nation among the nations. The imposition of the six county statelet based on a religious headcount was nakedly sectarian and should not be celebrated by anyone. Trevor Ringland’s superficial analysis of the causes of partition does not stand up to scrutiny. He needs to search an awful lot deeper for the truth.
FR JOE McVEIGH
Co Fermanagh
Save our areas of natural beauty
A local government auditor report on planning is due shortly. I think it will make for very interesting reading, as in my opinion moving planning to local authorities has failed.
My own area of Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, on the shores of Carlingford Lough, an area of outstanding natural beauty, is in need of major investment in tourism infrastructures, active travel and eco tourism that will protect and enhance our environment. With the pandemic and Brexit this will be the future for our area. The planning decisions that are being made need to reflect this. Proper consultation needs to happen with the local community. At the moment our AONB is being carved away with bad planning decisions. The time has come to save our AONB.
JIM BOYLAN
Warrenpoint, Co Down
