A tough choice

What has happened to Ireland? Where has it gone?

Not so long ago, people in Ireland could leave doors open, keys under the doormat, and would share their last slice of bread with someone less fortunate. Now, even the keys in your pocket are not safe, you can’t afford a doormat, and sharing a slice of bread could leave you open to litigation.

This is the Ireland of today, much of it brought on by being part of an open island. So we may have to decide – do we want an open Ireland or a short-sighted police state? Both have their good points; both have their bad.

Brexit gives us the choice: do we stay with Europe and be part of the big wide world outside our island? Or do we want to go back to closed borders and move away from the influences of the European courts and the pluralism brought by the EU?

We do not have the strength of Britain financially or industrially to go it alone. We are certainly between a rock and a hard place!

John Colgan, Fairview, Dublin 3.