Madam, - I note with interest the announcement of an Irish Government contribution of €580m to improve Northern Ireland's roads (The Irish Times, July 18th). I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of a "peace dividend" for the North, but I marvel at the lack of debate over the expenditure of such a large amount of (Republic of Ireland) taxpayers' money. It seems our politicians are unable to break cover on this issue for fear they could be labelled unpatriotic.
I look forward to increased normalisation of relations between the Republic and Northern Ireland. I would say to Dr Paisley that the best bulwark against a united Ireland is not the principle of consent as enshrined in the Good Friday agreement, nor the removal of Articles 2 and 3, but rather the growing feeling south of the Border that we could never afford, and/or don't want, a united Ireland and that the Celtic Tiger is best preserved as a 26-county animal.
Perhaps it's time that political debate caught up with the realities on the ground in the South? "We ourselves" has never been a more pertinent slogan in the Republic - unfortunately for Sinn Féin, not in the way it had envisaged. - Yours, etc,
RONAN FURLONG, Churchtown, Dublin 14.