Sir, – I wonder why Newton Emerson (Opinion, December 9th) and so many other commentators appear to assume that the votes of the citizens of this Republic can be taken for granted on the subject of a united Ireland.
He, like so many, concentrates solely on the prospect of a majority, or otherwise, within the confines of the North.
The voters in the South might well surprise a lot of people. – Yours, etc,
PAT O’MAHONY,
Westport,
Co Mayo.
Sir, – British or Irish? Catholic or Protestant? United Kingdom or united Ireland? Discussions on the future of Northern Ireland are bedevilled by artificial binary "alternatives" such as these: everyone has to choose a side.
There can only be Them and Us. But an independent Northern Ireland could determine its own character and develop its own unique relationships with its neighbours, with Europe, and with the wider world. Some might say it would not be a viable or feasible entity, but there are many countries of a similar size and population. An independent Northern Ireland would signal a new direction and a departure from the zero-sum politics of the past.
Brexit has illustrated perfectly the downside of addressing complex questions by the imposition of a simple (very narrow) majority rather than progressing by consensus and inclusion.
An all-island Ireland which coerced almost a million people into a State to which they feel no allegiance would be anything but "united", and would simply repeat many of the errors of the past.
Any referendum on the future status of Northern Ireland should include independence as an option.
– Yours, etc,
NICK NORTH,
Bruckless,
Co Donegal.