POTENTIAL BREXIT DEAL MAKES UNITY HERE THE KEY PRIORITY

FINALLY, because time is really running out, we find things are close to a potential Brexit deal. There is a flurry of UK-EU meetings in this marathon divorce tangle. We can rely upon some kind of compromise emerging in fullness of time. The European Union was founded from the horror, blood, famine, and ashes of the World War II aftermath, specifically to find compromise deals via negotiation, and to avoid conflicts, stalemate, and potential violence.

In all of that, the EU, for all its shortcomings, has been a huge success. But we must never take that EU success for granted.

Put simply, odds are there will soon be a post-Brexit deal on offer to the London government, sketching the outline of relations between this one-time second biggest member state and the other 27 nations of the EU.

The issue of the so-called Irish Border backstop, a mechanism to avoid a visible or hard Border in Ireland, is at the heart of the troubles in these final negotiations. The EU’s version of the backstop, leaving Northern Ireland to remain aligned with Brussels’ rules, has been rejected as unacceptable by British Prime Minister Theresa May and publicly abhorred by the DUP.

Let’s not overlook the reality that the DUP currently keeps Mrs May’s minority government in office and is threatening all sorts if the North is treated differently from England, Scotland and Wales as this ensemble of nations exits the EU. It is a lamentable stance which defies reality and recent history.

The North has the potential to reap EU and UK dividends and there is no reason why Brexit should be an either/or choice of such stark proportions.

Mrs May’s counter-proposal is for a “temporary customs arrangement” for the whole UK. But more ardent Brexiteers in the British Conservative Party fear this would prevent free trade deals with countries around the world.

On the EU side, there are fears that this would lead to the UK’s infamous ‘cake and eat it’ scenario, where they can have free trade within the EU, while undercutting their long-time fellow-members on larger world markets.

Compromises must turn on these difficult conflicts. But imaginative solutions can be found.

Here at home, there is no shortage of political drama as signs multiply of this minority Coalition’s unravelling. The various issues must be dealt with but not at the sacrifice of national unity. The various Dáil parties must park their divisions for now.

Dublin must reach out a hand to Belfast. A good deal is vital to all on this island. Unity in the south must mirror care for all in the north. Petty differences must be dispersed.

A good deal is vital for all on this island. Unity in the south must mirror care for all in the North