Sir, – On my next visit to England at the end of June, I expect to see a lot of noseless people in the streets – the result of pure spite. They will have an exhausted but happy smile on their faces as they explain to everyone, “We’ve done it!” – Yours, etc,
EDWIN HIGEL,
Sinzheim,
Germany.
Sir, – Diarmaid Ó Corrbuií (June 15th) says that Bridie Redmond (June 14th) "may be indifferent" to the possible effects of Brexit on Ireland but he ignores her points about the harmful effects EU membership and migration are having on the UK.
In simple terms, England is receiving the equivalent of the population of Dublin every two years and that puts unsustainable pressures on public services for UK residents, including those of Irish descent. Mr Ó Corrbuí may be indifferent to the effects of EU membership on the UK but Irish people resident living here cannot be.
Having foreign politicians asking Irish immigrants living in England to vote in the supposed interests of Ireland rather than in the interests of their new country is immoral and likely to be counter-productive. – Yours, etc,
NEIL ADDISON,
Liverpool.
Sir, – With the British EU debate balanced on the point of a pin, might this not be a good moment to enquire why our own Government is apparently so determined to ensure that no debate on this country’s European status be opened?
Outside the great English urban agglomerations, through which we tend to see our neighbour, there exists a very different, very unhappy world. If I had to bet the farm which way the vote will go, I would bet on Brexit. That will leave this country between a rock and a very hard place indeed: go with the “old enemy”, or continue with an utterly unresponsive giant, incapable of reform and lurching, zombie-like, towards “ever closer union, ever closer union”.
The immediate attractions of the EU are obvious to a people like us, always looking for the immediate pay-off, but I submit that after 90 years of supposed independence, perhaps the time has come to start thinking a little more strategically. Leaving the EU would cause a short-term disruption, especially as it would necessitate re-establishing the Irish currency, but the long-term gains, not least in the requirement to cut our cloth to suit our measure, are palpable.
Even the Brexiteers in Little England don’t envisage the end of the common travel area, and British law explicitly does not class the Irish as “aliens”.
With no disruption along the Border, the much vaunted new relationship between these isles could continue unaffected.
In addition, the British hand in exit negotiations – already quite powerful, with the UK being the fifth largest economy in the world – would be considerably strengthened by an Irish exit.
Not economically, perhaps, but the timing would be crucially advantageous to them: one country leaving can be passed off in Brussels as a hissy fit, but a second domino falling creates momentum.
With Marine Le Pen poised to challenge strongly for the French presidency, that could be critical to the negotiations.
The strategy is risky, but with a British withdrawal we’d be in a very turbulent position anyway. Let’s make an opportunity out of a crisis. – Yours, etc,
DAVID SMITH,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – In this the centenary year of the Rising, and our rapid ascent to full sovereignty and accession to our place among the nations which it engendered, may one assume that, in the event of a British exit from the EU, we would immediately scuttle out after them? I merely ask. – Yours, etc,
JOHN CULLY,
Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Sir, – Delighted to see that Tony Blair has thrown his wholehearted support behind the Remain camp. I haven’t seen him as bug-eyed and messianic since he wanted to invade Iraq. – Yours, etc,
ANNE BYRNE,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.