Sir, – I read with some surprise the Taoiseach’s statement that with regard to the European Union’s economic agenda, the British and Irish governments are “very much on the same page” (Home News, May 15th).
I don’t think the cordialities politicians usually indulge in when meeting their foreign counterparts should be taken so far as to fly in the face of facts. Unless the Taoiseach seriously thinks currency matters are entirely unrelated to the economy, how can British and Irish interests be identical if Ireland consciously and deliberately chose to join the euro zone and is doing its utmost to adhere to its rules while Britain did not do so.
This sort of loose and fanciful talk conjuring up common cause with those political forces which are most actively fighting against closer regulation of banks and financial institutions does more to undermine trust in Ireland among citizens of other euro zone members than that employed by the most outspoken critics of the government’s fiscal strategy.
Or could it be that the Government is pursuing an even more questionable strategy of holding open the door to a potential reintroduction of the currency union with Britain if things do not work out in the euro zone? Mr Kenny should watch his words, the rest of the euro zone is listening. – Yours, etc,