It’s the same old: my way or no way

Sir — I welcome you accommodating Jeffrey Donaldson some space (Sunday Independent, February 10) to put his points of view, but it’s the same old rhetoric again: his way or no way. Brexit will not give hope or bridge the “orange and green” divide but the opposite.

The DUP has not been listening to its own people or business and farming communities who have been saying staying in custom union makes sense and Brexit is silly. He says it does not want a hard border separating the north from the south, which we all agree would be disastrous, nor a border in the Irish Sea which is a natural border and it makes sense to everyone else.

He also says we must find a sensible solution to the problems to preserve the peace process and the political and institutional arrangements, also to avoid a no-deal scenario. But the DUP has been the party insisting that Theresa May keeps the no-deal option always as a leverage tool. So we read and listened to Mr Donaldson and his visions, so now how about he and his party start listening to their own electorate and the Irish people over the entire island and do what is best for them and not for him and his party? The bitterness, hatred and untrustworthiness has to be overcome so people on all sides of the divide can live peaceably together and enjoy life on this beautiful island.

A small part leaving to look for customers on the other side of the world does not make sense. He said: “If the political will is there on both sides we will find a solution.” Actions speak louder than words, Mr Donaldson, so show us. Ken Maher,

Kilcoole, Co Wicklow