Sir, – The newly established European Commission programme, entitled Peaceplus, will provide €1.14 billion in funding initiatives aimed at building reconciliation and greater prosperity across Northern Ireland and the Border counties, with the financial burden shared between the EU, the UK and Irish governments. One would assume that such a welcome boost for Northern Ireland would unite the political parties there and defy any strongly held allegiances or loyalties in the joint search for a better future.
At the launch of this hugely significant programme in Belfast, much of the media attention has focussed on the difference of opinion between An Taoiseach and the Northern Secretary on the UK Legacy Bill, the restoration of the powersharing executive and Mr Varadkar’s comments in relation to Irish unity (“Varadkar and Heaton-Harris clash over Irish unity comments and progress on restoring Stormont”, News, September 12th). However, the absence of unionist politicians at the event can only demonstrate once again the extent to which their antipathy towards Europe and the Irish Government, as well as their taking for granted the UK exchequer’s significant financial contribution, undermines their professed claim to have the wellbeing of the citizens of Northern Ireland as their priority and the UK as their spiritual home. – Yours, etc,
MARTIN McDONALD,
Dublin 12.