Sir, – Newton Emerson provides us with an overview of some of the political issues arising from the decision by the UK government to withhold Northern Ireland’s share of “levelling-up” funds because of the absence of an Executive and the offer from the Irish Government to contribute to any financial package to restore Stormont (“Government not offering Northern Ireland money to annoy DUP or Sinn Féin. But that is a bonus”, Opinion & Analysis, November 23rd).
However, he understates how these matters have highlighted, once again, the absolute bankruptcy of the DUP position at Westminster. Its MP for East Antrim, Sammy Wilson, has described the decision as “economic blackmail” yet all of this is as a direct result of his party’s decision, first of all, not to honour the wishes of the NI electorate to remain in the EU and the subsequent DUP opposition to a “soft Brexit” and the Windsor Framework in order to manufacture a bogus reason for its continued refusal to enter Stormont.
It is worth quoting the words of the former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Lord Empey, who has said that “Sammy and many of his colleagues feel a sense of guilt for their mistakes and try to bluster their way out of it by attacking everybody else.”
After the May 2022 NI Assembly elections, no Executive was formed, yet later that year Northern Ireland received £50 million from the UK’s levelling-up fund to finance 11 local projects. That allocation was described, at the time, as a “poor outcome” so, 18 months later, it should now be clear, even to the DUP, that the UK government has finally run out of patience. – Yours, etc,
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MARTIN McDONALD,
Terenure,
Dublin 12.
Sir, – Newton Emerson says Leo Varadkar appears to have “got away with” cancelling the A5 Derry to Dublin dual-carriageway promised in the 2006 St Andrews Agreement.
As a tangible example of cross-border engagement, it was a winner.
In October 2017, Leo Varadkar re-emphasised his “cast-iron” commitment to the road: “I want to see that project go ahead as quickly as possible. I also believe that the completion of routes from Dublin to Derry and Donegal should be a strategic priority for governments both north and south.”
When agreed confidence-building measures are not fulfilled, confidence is eroded, not just in individual politicians but in the political process. – Yours, etc,
Dr JOHN DOHERTY,
Gaoth Dobhair,
Co Dhún na nGall.