Sir, – The implications for Northern Ireland of a Brexit vote were not remotely considered by Leave campaigners, but the issue is of the utmost importance. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has already raised the prospect of Scotland seceding from the UK, or even an alliance with Northern Ireland, in order for both to remain within the European Union. This is nationalist optimism of a fantastical kind as Scottish independence is unlikely, and Ulster Unionists would surely reject such an arrangement, although preferable to a united Ireland (the remotest possibility of all).
Here is a proposal directed at the European Commission and the EU member states. At present only sovereign states can become members of the European Union, but the EU should move toward allowing constituent components of third-party states to apply for associate EU membership, thus Scotland and Northern Ireland, while remaining within the UK, could maintain the benefits of EU membership through their association. That solution could avert the potential disaster of an unravelling of the Belfast Agreement. It would also constitute another massive EU contribution to peace in our historically turbulent continent. – Yours, etc,
Dr SIMON SWEENEY,
University of York.
Sir, – Fintan O'Toole and Diarmaid Ferriter, with whom I normally agree, seem to believe that so firmly do many Northern unionists wish to remain in the EU that they would join the Republic of Ireland in protest at the Brexit vote and even pay the price of their membership of the UK. This belief is the implication of Fintan O'Toole's call for the Irish Government to resist the expulsion of Northern Ireland from the EU "against its will" ("Belfast Agreement is a threat to the new English nationalism", Opinion & Analysis, July 5th), and Diarmaid Ferriter's surmise that Brexit will weaken the unionism of the young ("Brexit may bring North and South closer", Opinion & Analysis, July 2nd).
To use, in effect, Brexit as an opportunity to further an imagined Irish unity on the EU question is understandable but unwise. It will likely have the opposite effect. One economist estimates that 78 per cent of northern unionists voted Leave. If calls for all-Ireland forums and protests continue, the Remain unionists will take fright. Were a second referendum held, Great Britain might well vote Remain. But I have a suspicion bordering upon a conviction that the 78 per cent unionist vote would rise significantly.
My own solution is for the Republic to follow the UK through the egress door to the sovereignty it enjoyed for so few years. And what possibilities for closer bonding on the island that would raise! – Yours, etc,
JOHN WILSON FOSTER,
Belfast.
Sir, – In the context of the continuing disastrous political leadership in the UK since this century began, and with no convincing indicators that things might change anytime soon, anything that would reduce UK influence in the world and on world leaders would be welcome. Brexit can’t come quickly enough! – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL GANNON,
Kilkenny.