It’s time to think again about an independent Northern Ireland

IN taking the distinguished historian Max Hastings to task over his views on the future of Northern Ireland, Nelson Mccausland (Comment, February 18) adroitly avoids discussing the vast subsidy required to keep Northern Ireland afloat.

Last year, that subvention was £12bn, plus another £3bn towards Covid-related issues.

This century, Northern Ireland has already received the equivalent in today’s money of £200bn-plus, with the prospect of another £960bn over the remaining 21st century.

English commentators are entitled to ask whether unionists are worth that investment.

There is certainly no evidence that political unionism ever intends to repay that investment. Instead, the DUP has argued that this redistribution of funds is normal practice.

Having made these observations, it is important to also note that republican/nationalist aspirations for a united Ireland are likely to be dashed.

One significant outcome of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement and protocol is that Northern Ireland is now a member state of the European Union with its own tax code: XI.

To enter the vat number of any ni business into the EU’S Vat-checker, one must scroll down the list of EU member states, past France, Germany and Ireland to, yes, you’ve guessed it, Northern Ireland.

As an international treaty, the Withdrawal Agreement has created Northern Ireland as an administrative unit of the EU. History suggests this is unlikely to be changed anytime soon.

It is quite likely that Northern Ireland’s status as a member state of the EU is the reason why the Fianna Fail government in the Republic has rowed back from calling for a unity referendum and also why republicans/nationalists are likely to have their aspirations dashed.

Maybe it’s time to discuss an independent Northern Ireland inside the EU, or even outside it?

DR BERNARD MULHOLLAND Belfast