Political impasse in Northern Ireland

Sir, – Further to “Sunak offers concession on Irish Sea border to tempt the DUP back to Stormont” (News, January 5th), I’m reminded of an Alanis Morissette song, Isn’t It Ironic ? To have rejected Theresa May’s “backstop” deal and to end up potentially settling for something remarkably similar, one must surely ask why did we all have to suffer the past five to six years? – Yours, etc,

CRAIG DOUGLAS,

Belfast.

Sir, – What if Sinn Féin were to announce, magnanimously, that they were willing to accept the role of Deputy First Minister and support a DUP candidate for First Minister? Accepting the parity of authority and responsibility that’s in place between the First and Deputy First Ministers, surely it’s an initiative that could be considered. The response from the DUP would be of particular interest. – Yours, etc,