Sir, - The Good Friday Agreement was overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Ireland as a whole. More than 70 per cent voted for it in Northern Ireland. If, in spite of Sinn Fein's best efforts, the PIRA were to re-activate a campaign it would be in the teeth of the opposition of the collective will of the people of AllIreland. It must be emphasised, however, that such collective support for the agreement is given in the context of its totality and that this includes the formation of an executive.
The republican movement can no longer call upon the 1918 general election result to validate any further campaign; the people of Ireland spoke loud and clear in the changed context of today in the referendum of 1998.
With such an overwhelming vote by the Irish people in its favour and with two governments committed to its working, unionists should realise that there is ample provision to deal authoritatively with any party not complying with the provisions of the agreement. Furthermore, if the agreement collapses because of failure to set up an executive, it is the Protestant unionist people of Northern Ireland who stand to lose most of all. - Yours, etc.,
John Robb, Consensor, New Ireland Group, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.