A chara, - In relation to the demand for the flying of the Irish flag, the Tricolour, in the six counties, Sam Foster (May 22nd) should realise that the issue is not sovereignty but identity and allegiance. There are two identities and two allegiances here. There is no question of British sovereignty in any part of Ireland. To insist on flying the Union Jack and to insist on retaining British symbols is contrary to the spirit and the letter of the Good Friday Agreement which was about parity and equality and a new beginning. By accepting the principle of consent nationalists were not accepting the trappings of a British state. Northern Ireland is not like Finchley because there are within it two totally opposed ideologies and two identities. When I voted for the Agreement I did not vote for a new kind of British state but for a new beginning where the orange state would be dismantled.
For nationalists, the Union Jack is a reminder of their subjection and domination. The Tricolour is a symbol of the unity of orange and green on this island. The way to resolve these conflicting identities in the six counties is to fly both flags or none. - Is mise,
Fr Joe McVeigh, Cois Locha Angarastun Co Fermanagh.