Only DUP could fail to see that EU deal has the potential to make NI a roaring economic success

AS one who works in international services, and having actually bothered to read the EU agreement as it pertains to Northern Ireland (and with my once lawyer hat on), my reading is that this is an extraordinarily good deal for Northern Ireland economically.

All of the bombast from Foster, Wilson et al about being a rule-taker is narcissistic nonsense. Northern Ireland is a tiny country. Do we honestly think we have any input into the ‘rules’ of anything?

People need to grow up. I understand the constitutional concerns and the perfectly reasonable unionist annoyance at Ireland’s rather self-aggrandising attitude to all this. However, Northern Ireland is to be unique in the world in having unfettered access to both the UK and EU single markets. So, my view is that we should shut up and start hustling.

Any unionist leader with any vision, or gumption, would seize this with both hands as an opportunity to make Northern Ireland a roaring economic success story — surely the most effective way to protect our “precious Union”?

If I was a Scot, I’d be feeling more than a little put out. If I was running a big Irish or British export business, I’d be browsing the internet for office space in Belfast. Only the DUP could see a golden egg, shoot the goose and make an omelette with the egg.

It is a tragedy the business community has been left with only the DUP to speak for us. Many unionists, like myself, simply want to get on with growing our businesses and making a success of Northern Ireland for everyone here.

It’s a pity that the DUP should so conspicuously let us down with their overreaching sense of entitlement.

BRETT TEMPLETON Holywood, Co Down