Sir, – Jeffrey Donaldson collapses the Northern Ireland Executive, formed as part of the Belfast Agreement that has brought peace to NI, an agreement that he voted against. Edwin Poots, who lasted a wet week as leader of the DUP after deposing Arlene Foster, has now had his ill-considered solo run at halting custom checks rejected by the courts. Doug Beattie, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, is utterly discredited, as recent tweets have revealed. The man they hope will save them, Boris Johnson, is sinking without trace. Surely the unionist voters of NI deserve better and must find leaders who actually live in the real world and are not a constant source of derision and laughter. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Ballinasloe, Co Galway.
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Sir, – Sammy Wilson argues on RTÉ radio that the resignation of Paul Givan was necessary for the return to what he calls “normal politics” in Northern Ireland. Couldn’t what happened be described precisely as “normal politics” in the six counties? – Yours, etc,
PETER DECLAN
O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
Sir, – Taoiseach Micheál Martin argues that, in the case of Northern Ireland, “no one party should have a veto over whether an Executive exists or continues on, and likewise the Assembly” (News, February 5th). Is that not the whole point of powersharing in Northern Ireland? That if one party happens to represent a respective nationalist or unionist majority that they can indeed effectively veto the existence of the Executive? These institutions were created by the Belfast Agreement which was signed by then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr Martin’s Fianna Fáil predecessor. Whatever one might say about DUP finagling, we should not be so quick to abandon the principles of powersharing in Northern Ireland (now or under any future model where cross-community support will be essential) after all it took to agree them. – Yours, etc,
ANDREW ENNIS,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – If I have this right, it appears that Sinn Féin and the DUP have finally aligned policies by refusing in advance to take up seats to which they may be duly democratically elected: Westminster for the former and the Northern Irish Assembly for the latter.
The pigs are flying in large numbers these days. – Is mise,
ALAN BRODERICK,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Jeffrey Donaldson says, “The protocol represents an existential threat to the union and to the future of Northern Ireland within the United Kingdom.”
He is correct in this assessment. The protocol is a fudge; it cannot succeed unless Northern Ireland is differentiated from Great Britain and it should be obvious that unionists will not allow their identity to be so easily compromised.
The protocol arose from the Irish Government insisting that there was a threat of violence if it reverted to a hard border. Reintroduction of a hard border would be very unlikely to lead to significant violence. So many factors have changed for the better over the last 50 years and, crucially, Sinn Féin has adopted the democratic route.
It is ironic that the hard border was removed in 1993 because of the advent of the Single Market. Now there is an imperative to replace it to protect the Single Market. It is time the Republic faces reality and offers a hard border before the EU creates its own existential crisis for Dublin. – Yours, etc,
BILL JERMYN,
Toronto,
Canada.
Sir, – A word has gone missing. This was a very popular and influential word. It circulated at the highest levels of governments and diplomacy, was ubiquitous at dinner parties, widely quoted in the press, and the subject of many pub debates. But now it is gone. Its whereabouts are currently unknown. It has not been spoken or even whispered for over a year. Where is it? The word is “backstop”. Now you’re feeling nostalgic for those great days, I know. But don’t despair! I have a feeling that this word might make a comeback, when its upstart successor “protocol” falls out of favour, as it will surely do. Then we can welcome back our old friend “backstop” and resume our “dance with the DUP”, as if nothing had happened. Which will probably be the case. – Yours, etc,
TERRY PATTISON,
Dún Laoghaire,
Co Dublin.