Sir, – David McWilliams correctly identifies that we need to move away from centralisation in Dublin as we look forward to constitutional change on this island (“Ireland is ‘dangerously lopsided’. Galway and Limerick are essential to its future”, Opinion, Weekend, September 21st).
The economic and demographic growth the State is currently enjoying provides a unique opportunity to build our regional cities and rebalance the country, but this opportunity will be lost if we do not act now as the resources of the State will be focussed North as reunification draws closer in the 2040s.
Whether the State is capable of taking the concerted action required is another question, but a failure to act will have implications for reunification.
The people of Northern Ireland are unlikely to be satisfied with a State that is focussed on Dublin only.
Rebus review: More character study than pulsating thriller but Edinburgh leaps off the screen
‘Reneé Rapp, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan – it feels like there’s a wave of queer artists now. It’s so good’
A Cold Eye by Carlo Gébler: A vivid and arresting diary as memoir
Opinion: We need to complain more. After a ghost bus, I had to pay €81 for a taxi from Waterford to Kilkenny
If we wish to see long-term harmony on this island, the State will need to move from the current Dublin-centric model toward a system of regional centres with more devolved powers and this will need to be up and running before reunification. – Yours, etc,
DAVID GEARY,
Limerick.