Sir, – The timing of Gerry Adams’s article (Opinion, January 16th) is quite remarkable. International experience of post-conflict societies has shown that generosity of spirit has been a critical feature of societies that recover from the horrors of conflicts where memories have not faded and the participants continue to live side by side.
The Northern state is finding its way haltingly through both radical changes and further entrenchment as we are seeing on its streets at present. The continued practice of pursuing incendiary policies, whether they are contentious marches or the insistence on lowering the de facto and de jure flag of Northern Ireland on state buildings by (among others) the Sinn Féin party is further evidence of perfidy in a society in need of truth, reconciliation and stability. The vast majority of the people of Northern Ireland are being served very poorly by their community and political leaders.
The tragedy of Northern Ireland’s past and its steps towards a shared future are part of the Irish Government’s policy platform, so the Irish State is an interested observer of current events in Northern Ireland.
However, Mr Adams’s article in The Irish Times comes at a time of unprecedented economic turmoil in our State. He is a TD for a constituency in the Irish State and is no longer a public representative in the country of his birth, the United Kingdom.
There is no evidence in any recent polls that suggests a majority of people in Northern Ireland would vote for a united political, legal and economic entity on this island. Moreover, a vote in favour of unification is by no means guaranteed south of the Border. Raising the unity issue at this particular time gives the Irish people (North and South) a very clear sense of quality of leadership Mr Adams has to offer. It is Sinn Féin policy to seek a united Ireland and all citizens on the island know that.
Timing, however, is everything and this appears to be deliberately provocative and of very little merit at this time.
Mr Adams would be better served preparing for his Dáil appearances, as his appalling efforts to oppose the Government are an embarrassment to parliamentary democracy. Sinn Féin can do much better than this and the people they represent deserve better. – Yours, etc,