Sir, – Janan Ganesh writes that "There was never a clamour to leave the EU" ("Brexit – a referendum that is both naive and necessary", June 21st). If the decades-long discord in the Conservative Party plus nearly four million votes for Ukip do not constitute clamour, what does? – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Vienna.
Sir, – A hard Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic would be as close to unenforceable as makes no difference.
Even in the 1980s, with the Troubles and Cold War defence budgets, securing the entirety of the 220-mile Northern Irish border could not in practice be enforced. The farms and dwellings straddling the various intercounty borders which constitute it create what are in effect private crossing points, and the exact maritime boundaries between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have never officially been agreed.
The most likely outcome, if any, of the UK leaving the EU would be passenger checks on on flights and ferries from Northern Ireland to Britain. David Cameron himself has acknowledged this as an option. Even the EU has more sense than to be seen to be enforcing a latter-day Berlin Wall in the town of Belleek, or the village of Pettigo.
It has never been necessary to show or possess a passport to cross from the Republic into Northern Ireland or vice versa. Unless the Irish Government chooses to remove itself from the Common Travel Area, it never will be. As shown by the Isle of Man’s participation, EU membership is not a requirement for the Common Travel Area. – Yours, etc,
DARAGH GERALD
PATRICK CAHALANE,
St Albans,
England.
Sir, – While there are things I dislike about contemporary Britain, and London in particular, I don’t see them as having any connection with Britain’s EU membership.
Indeed, as far as I’m concerned, EU membership has brought only benefits. I have no hang-ups about immigrants from central and eastern Europe because I know that if such people decide to stay, they will integrate.
So I have absolutely no problem with Ministers and TDs from Ireland urging Irish citizens resident in Britain to remember the interests of their country of origin and vote to remain in the EU. On the contrary, I welcome it and wish they would make themselves more visible and go beyond the narrow circuit of Irish clubs.
For me, the Leave campaign is founded on outright lies and deliberate misinformation spewed out on a regular basis by the Murdoch press. It is no more than politically and economically illiterate, xenophobic “organic fertiliser”.
My local Labour MP, Conor McGinn, born and raised in south Armagh, would probably agree with these sentiments. Like him, I’ll be voting Remain on June 23rd. And if people in Ireland see us as wearing green jerseys for the occasion, so much the better. – Yours, etc,
ED KELLY,
St Helens,
Merseyside,
England.
Sir, – I suspect national pride is the single biggest driver of British votes to leave the EU. It is not a comfort to the public to have their leading politicians tell them that they will suffer economically if they stand alone as a sovereign nation. It makes the UK sound weak and dependent. I suspect many exit voters quietly accept the possibility that the economy may suffer from leaving. They are willing to accept these adverse economic consequences in order to gain full autonomy as a nation.
It is worth noting that such a position is at odds with the anti-immigration stand taken by the leading voices in the Brexit campaign. The argument that immigration is causing economic hardship to working communities cannot be squared by any voter who is willing to accept adverse economic consequences from leaving the EU. – Yours, etc,
BILL O’ROURKE,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – Isn’t it ironic that those British politicians calling loudly for Brexit in protest at immigration and unelected officials exercising power have no such issue with a head of state who is both unelected and a member of a German immigrant family? – Yours, etc,
PAUL LAUGHLIN,
Derry.
Sir, – While it is true that the consequences of a Brexit could be negative for the rest of the EU, it could also bring with it opportunity to re-energise the European project.
The UK has long been a reluctant member of the EU. After setting up a rival organisation, the European Free Trade Association (Efta), in 1960, it finally joined the EEC in 1973, only to hold its first “in/out” referendum two years later.
It has opted out of the euro and Schengen zone and has in effect opted out of any more serious or meaningful integration.
If the negative effects of the UK leaving are managed correctly, and we can avoid the prospect of other countries holding similar referendums, then the consequences of a Brexit could be positive.
Without a reluctant member dragging its heels, the EU could move forward with more ambition. We could look at creating a strong and coherent common foreign policy and democratising the institutions by giving the European Parliament more power and having the European Commission president directly elected.
If the UK votes to leave the EU it will cause panic in certain circles, but if we do not let ourselves be consumed by fear, and instead use the opportunity to reform and strengthen the EU, it could be better for all of us. – Yours, etc,
KEITH DUNNE,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.