Nationalists having cakeandeatingit

I RECENTLY chanced to be in conversation with a lady from Dublin who had come north for a private medical consultation. She proceeded to tell me about the sorry state of health services in the Republic and about the costs patients have to pay.

The conversation made me wonder, with all the talk of border polls, why anyone from the nationalist community would vote for a united Ireland.

In this ‘wee statelet’, we all enjoy free healthcare. Nationalists enjoy a separate education system, paid for by the state. They have generous funding for largely separate sports (ie GAA). Millions of pounds are given to the promotion of the Irish language to promote their culture.

Their every wish, it seems, can be argued before a judge at public expense. Millions of pounds are poured into the bottomless well of community organisations.

In return, they don’t even need to be citizens of the wee statelet. They travel on the passport of a neighbouring country. In other words, they can have their cake and eat it.

They have all the benefits of the UK and they declare as Irish citizens without the inferior health service, welfare benefits and tax levels intheRepublic.

They even have a say on when their unionist neighbours can display their identity.

There is resentment that we need to pay heed to voices from remote Westminster, but do we then change that to remote voices in Dublin and Brussels?

Does anyone think that the noisy northern neighbours will be welcome throwing their weight about in the south? Another slice of cake, please. Thank you very much.

RAYMOND HUGHES Ballyclare, Co Antrim