A chara, – Recent articles (Daithí O'Ceallaigh and Paul Gillespie, "Ireland must do its utmost to keep Britain in the EU", Opinion & Analysis, March 25th) and letters (Maurice Pratt, March 27th) correctly highlight how vital it is that we assess the implications for Ireland of a potential UK departure from the EU.
The imperative to begin an in-depth national conversation on “Brexit” is clear. What is less clear is the correct tone and timbre of the appeal that we as a nation must ultimately make to our neighbours.
Should this be a clinical enumeration of facts, or an emotional rallying cry based on our historic closeness? Finding the correct temperature, and choosing the best mouthpieces to convey this appeal, will matter a great deal.
The complex dynamics of the Ireland-UK relationship make the task a multidimensional challenge. How, for example, would we react if the roles were reserved?
It’s time to widen and deepen this conversation, without delay. Its importance equals and arguably outstrips the far more prominent calls for a national debate on the 1916 commemorations. – Is mise,
AMHLAOIBH
MacGIOLLA,
Oileán Chliara,
Co Mhaigh Eo.
Sir, – It is very common to hear people who are pro-EU saying that the EU is not perfect, thus indicating that it may have a few problems but overall it is a positive thing. Very few things are perfect, especially in politics. The UK is very right to offer its citizens a referendum on whether to remain part of the EU as many see very little benefit being a member of it. Open borders are marketed as great for business yet in reality it is very dangerous and basically designed to erode the nation state.
The European Court of Human Rights has been a complete disaster, especially for the UK, as many people who are a danger to the UK and are not from the UK are deemed to have a right to live there, irrespective of the danger they pose. Small businesses have so much red tape to get through that it is very difficult to start a business, which further harms the economy. But the biggest concern about the EU is that it seems to think that harassing Russia and goading Vladimir Putin will have no consequences.
The Russians are our natural allies and to corner them and pretend the EU had nothing to do with the instability in the Ukraine is a recipe for disaster.
Many EU countries now see a huge rise in nationalist parties as the citizens are sick of seeing their proud nations dissolve. Add to this the fact that the EU wants to create a European army and one must conclude that the EU is a not a positive force. – Yours, etc,
DERMOT COOPER,
Causeway Bay,
Hong Kong.