Hold a referendum to decide Northern Ireland’s relationship with European Union’s single market

MICHEAL Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail (News, October 23), assures us that the European Union, in the form of its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, is “offering Northern Ireland ... guaranteed access to the single markets of both the UK and the EU”.

If this is true, then the offer should be seized by the people of Northern Ireland, but it is being blocked by the EU’s intransigence, as some see it, and the UK’s dithering, as others say.

As an outsider — a British expatriate in Cyprus — I confess to knowing less about Northern Ireland than I should, but I cannot ignore my feeling that the great impasse in Brexit, which threatens a “no-deal” outcome, is caused by each side claiming to be acting according to the wishes of Northern Ireland people, without knowing what those are.

It is known that, in the referendum, they voted solidly to remain in the EU, therefore they presumably wanted to stay in the single market.

Is it not time to call a referendum just within Northern Ireland on the question ,‘ Should Northern Ireland continue to be joined to the single market of the European Union?’.

The voters of Northern Ireland are well-able to understand the implications, which I am sure are profound. Outsiders like myself, Mr Barnier and Mrs May should not intrude, or presume to know the answer already.

Since so much that is potentially good — not least for the economic development of Northern Ireland — hangs on the answer to this question, why should it not be asked?

IAN HANCOCK Nicosia, Cyprus