UK shows disregard for rules of democracy
THE recent antics of the British government after the elections in Northern Ireland show its complete disregard for the principles of democracy.
Blaming the Protocol for its own failures, and trying to use it as a bargaining tool against the Irish Government and the European Union, is shameful.
The British government ignores the fact that a majority of elected representatives in the six-county electoral region want the Protocol to be applied as is.
Instead, it is pandering to a fundamentalist rump of unionism – people who think that following democratic outcomes applies to them only when they’re in the ascendancy.
There is an old saying that ‘if you educate a stupid person, they can become dangerous’.
This certainly applies to British prime minister Boris Johnson, who is quite blatantly refusing to adhere to what he signed up to.
Mr Johnson throws caution to the wind, leaving others to tidy up the mess after him.
Will Taoiseach Micheál Martin make excuses to cover up, or will he tell the world’s media the truth about the bullying nature of negotiations with the British, plus the threatening nature of statements released by British government officials such as Jacob Rees-Mogg whose title is ‘Minister for Brexit Opportunities’?
Those threats should be called out for what they are.
I’d say that Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney would be better at calling a spade a spade than Micheál Martin, whose glib waffling would only lead to further confusion.
Mr Coveney should make it clear that former colonies are calling for the return of artefacts looted while being suppressed by the occupiers, so why doesn’t he call for the return of our six counties, which were stolen under the threat of all-out war if a dotted line was not signed? What was democratic about that?
To counter Britain’s pigheadedness, Micheál Martin should set up a Citizens’ Assembly without delay, as Michelle O’Neill, First Minister-in-waiting, has called for, to plan for a united Ireland – an idea that is gaining more traction as time trundles on. It’s about being proactive instead of waiting until the horse has bolted from the stable. JAMES WOODS,
Dún na nGall.
The new Penal Laws
IT does not matter what form of words are proposed, as the opponents of the National Maternity Hospital project are driven by their hatred of the Catholic Church.
Their utterances and comments are tantamount to hate speech and they would take umbrage if such vile comments were being addressed to them.
These people are about reintroducing the Penal Laws to ensure that Christians are prevented from following certain professions. They are driven by the tenets of their politically correct, woke religion which is now in the ascendancy in Ireland and which is being followed slavishly by certain politicians seeking to raise their profile.
MICHAEL LENNON, Dublin 15.
Opera in the valley
OUR amazing local communities in Waterford and Cork deserve a huge round of applause for supporting this year’s Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (BVOF). Without our volunteers and local heroes who help prepare and work on the festival each summer, we simply would not exist.
Our summer festival takes place from May 31 to June 6 and features the opera Orfeo ed Euridice in the grounds of Lismore Castle, Co. Waterford, conducted by Peter Whelan and directed by David Bolger, with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and CoisCéim Dance Theatre.
The opera and recital performances for schools, education outreach, BVOF bursary programme and free community concerts along the Blackwater Valley also inspire an appreciation of music and opera in future generations.
Our BVOF volunteers help run the fabulous Dromore Yard concerts in west Waterford, this year featuring Giovanni Bellucci, Maurice Steger, the Irish Baroque Orchestra with Nuria Rial and Juan Sancho, and a special event – BVOF Voices of Ukraine, with all ticket proceeds to Unicef.
We are always welcoming new volunteers, so please get in touch if you’d like to find out more. TARA McKEOWN, Blackwater Valley Opera Festival.
Bikers in the dark ages
I HAVEN’T ridden a motorcycle for over 40 years. However, in my youth, my faithful black Jawa 250 took me across many a byway.
As far as I recall, all the protective motorcycle gear was black in those days.
Even the essential helmets came in dark colours only.
Despite the passage of time, it seems that nothing has changed to brighten motorbike fashion trends. The vast majority of motorcyclists travel about in their dark attire and therefore make their presence less visible to the multitude of other speeding road users.
Can I suggest that it’s about time that helmet manufacturers be obliged to ensure that their products come in bright, very visible colours only?
Bikers could also play their safety part by wearing colourful clothes when out for their regular runs. Each and every improvement would assist in reducing the terrible toll of road accidents .