Sir, – I see our Taoiseach has taken his place at the British-Irish Council alongside the leaders of such places as Jersey, Isle of Man, Wales and other internal British regional authorities. It all seems extremely one-sided to me. If the British are able to include their regional organisations, why can’t the Irish? Should Údarás na Gaeltachta be represented, for example, or the leaders of our larger county councils?
As leader of the country, the Taoiseach is charged with making sure our country is represented in a proper and dignified manner. Taking its place as an equal among some regional governments is neither proper nor dignified.
If it is a truly British-Irish council, it should be a council between the British government and the Irish Government. When the British are taking part in G7 summits, they do not send the Guernsey delegation too.
There are probably many in Fine Gael who are perfectly comfortable with Ireland accepting equal status with internal UK entities. Not to be biased about it, Fianna Fáil had no problem with it in their time either.
I am not so sure that the people of this country are as satisfied with it though. – Yours, etc,
JOHN TEMPLE,
Chapel Road,
Dromiskin,
Co Louth.