THE Irish News (July 21) reported that Colm Eastwood believes the Dublin government should establish a citizens’ assembly to discuss Ireland’s constitutional future regarding a united Ireland. In the same report it was claimed “that thousands of GAA members from northern counties have written to the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, urging him to kick start conversations about an agreed shared Ireland. The open letter to Mr Martin was signed by Gaels in counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Derry, Armagh and Tyrone.”
I would have my doubts that thousands of GAA members would have written to Micheál Martin, I would be satisfied that a few high-ranking establishment-prone GAA officials may have written to him.
I am not surprised that people like Mr Eastwood and establishment leading figures call for smokescreen, time-wasting ideas which prolong the day of Irish independence.
I challenge Mr Eastwood and the other people of authority who are putting forward ideas to answer why all of these great plans of the past have failed.
The answer is simple: because Britain is in control and no suggestion, idea, or plan will succeed while Britain maintains that control. Let all your great ideas, suggestions and plans for a united Ireland flow but while England has the masterful say they are doomed. Even the Good Friday Agreement is a failure and now the Northern Ireland Protocol and to hold her sway England will play the orange card. British government ministers Lord Frost and Brandon Lewis recently met the Loyalist Communities Council which represents the UDA and UVF and after that meeting the pressure grew against the protocol. The stance the unionists have taken may destroy their power base, but England has no love for them. She is using them to weaken the EU stance on the protocol. England will always play the orange card.
The unionist hierarchy will never adhere to an agreed or shared Ireland that may allow nationalists justice. While the Northern Ireland framework is in place and unionists are there to be used by the British.
The only road to a united Ireland is for the British government to declare a withdrawal date and let the Irish of all creeds discus the new Ireland. Everyone with common sense knows this, then why do the institutional politicians and the elite of the GAA and other elitist figures keep pondering failed ideas prolonging the day of Irish freedom whereby our people can enjoy peace and prosperity in a just and equal Ireland.
CON DARCY
Co Sligo
Vote for parties with clearly defined policy on opposing abortion
I greatly welcome the statement by the Northern Irish Catholic Bishops condemning the attempt to force the Northern Ireland Assembly to commission abortion services in Northern Ireland.
This is a statement that I know many people both Catholic and Protestant and indeed many non-believers will also welcome. While I completely understand that it is prudent and wise for religious leaders not to suggest which political parties people should vote for,
I am not sure what benefit will accrue from writing to politicians to ask
them what their position on abortion is when we all know, for example, that members of Sinn Féin support abortion services.
We also know that a significant part of the of the SDLP support abortion and together with Sinn Féin actually requested the British government to introduce abortion services in the north. My advice to those in the future considering which political party they should vote for would be to save their time and expense in writing to Pro-Abort politicians and look to parties which have a clearly defined policy on opposing abortion. On the nationalist/republican side I am only aware of one party in this category – Aontú.
EAMON DALLETT
Dungiven, Co Derry
Economics will always trump DUP protests
Following its exit from the European Union the UK ceased to be a member of the Lugano Convention – an international treaty which governs cross-border civil and commercial legal disputes.
London had established itself as the global capital for dispute resolution dealing with complex family matters to business operations.
The Law Society opined this added nearly £60 billion to the UK economy in 2018.
In April 2020 UK application to rejoin was recently rejected. The EU commission was not in a position to consent to the UK accession. A decision ultimately rests with member states to decide through a council vote.
Boris has done his best to alienate EU leaders but now needs a favour. A recent announcement on possible renewing on the NI protocol will have made things worse.
Arlene Foster appeared recently on a TV channel with Nigel Farage to lament the current Brexit situation. She should be informing her elected but uninformed members that the protocol will not be legally binding. The English are in a very weak position and economics will always trump DUP protests. Her political allegiance and defence to Tory Londoners is an affront to the majority of voters in the six counties.
BRIAN WILSON
Craigavon, Co Armagh
Liberal-minded folk should display an appropriate amount of respect
Bangor Humanist Andy Barr (July 29) should resist the human urge of whataboutery when attacking philosophies he disagrees with. Quoting the Old Testament in his own support is very thin gruel, particularly in regard to the death penalty which was a punishment in every civilisation from the beginning of time and often for comparatively minor offences. Even the most famous Humanist government of modern history, in France after the Revolution, used the death penalty with gusto as it staged mass executions.
Yes, most Christians do read the Bible but as an attempt at understanding rather than an exercise in gleaning stones to bombard perceived enemies. As to the slur he levelled at a long-dead politician unable to defend himself – away from politics Edward Heath was an intensely private man. Since his death there has been public speculation about him but so far no-one has ever produced any evidence about his private life. It is a pity that liberal minded folk like Andy can not show the gentleman appropriate respect.
C MURRAY
Belfast BT11
