Sir, – Gay Mitchell’s letter (April 19th) raises an important point when he asks about the status of Nato and Northern Ireland in the event of a united Ireland coming about.
Isn’t it about time that we in the Republic defined how exactly we would see a united Ireland working?
Without knowing how this united Ireland would work, how could we consider voting for such a thing?
Will the voting system change? Will the flag change? Will the national anthem change?
Will the Dáil move from Leinster House or even Dublin, to new quarters, to accommodate a larger Dáil?
Will, or should, special status in the Dáil given to the undoubted large and disaffected minority from Northern Ireland who would now be part of an expanded Republic?
These are some of the questions, and there are many others, which I, and I’m sure many others, would want answered well in advance of any reunification vote for the island of Ireland.
It’s now 100 years since Ireland got its independence and we’ve been tippy-toeing around this subject since then.
It’s about time we started talking seriously about what this new country might look like and clearly define it and vote on it here in the Republic, before any referendum on a reunification vote.
How do each of our political parties in the Republic see this working in practical terms?
Personally, I would like to be able to vote for or against any such proposed changes, before any reunification vote, because voters in the Republic (we matter too and shouldn’t be taken for granted) might not like what’s proposed.
We see, from across the Irish Sea, what happens when people vote for a notion rather than a clearly defined concept.
Don’t want that happening here in Ireland. – Yours, etc,
DAVID DORAN,
Bagenalstown,
Co Carlow.
Sir, – Gay Mitchell asserts, quite presumptuously, that “Clearly a united Ireland would require Nato membership for the whole of Ireland”.
Surely that would be an issue decided by all the people of Ireland in a border poll.
While Northern Ireland as a part of the UK is a technical Nato member, the people of Northern Ireland never decided or were never consulted whether they would assent to membership of Nato. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.