Sir, – The prime minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, says that a Border poll on reunification of Ireland is off the table.
I wonder if the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Bryant, agrees, as it is within his gift to decide whether or not there should be a Border poll, which is stated clearly in the Belfast Agreement.
It doesn’t say he must bow to the wishes of the prime minister. Let’s hope he has a backbone and determines what to do himself, or does the realpolitik of the situation dictate a different decision-making process than that set down in the international agreement? – Yours, etc,
JAMES STAPLETON,
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Balbriggan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Andy Burnham, UK prime minister, says a vote on a united Ireland is off the table. The Belfast Agreement stipulates that it is up to the Secretary of State to call a referendum if it seems likely that the poll would be passed, but successive British governments have declined to say on what grounds such a poll would be deemed to pass.
Perhaps it would be helpful if the British government stated the criterion for such a poll. The Northern Ireland Assembly is the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland established under the Belfast Agreement. A majority vote by the Assembly in favour of Irish unity would be an obvious trigger for such a referendum. The majority vote should be substantial, at least 60 per cent, thus ensuring the justification for such a poll.
A clarification such as this would provide a useful framework for any debates about Irish unity. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN CALLANAN,
Ennis Road,
Limerick.
