Nationalism is duplicitous over the EU, democracy and the Northern Ireland Protocol

A letter from Adrian Lonergan:
By Letters
Published 15th Feb 2022, 00:11 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2022, 00:19 BST
In its enthusiasm for the protocol, Irish republicanism has contradicted its own past opposition to EuropeIn its enthusiasm for the protocol, Irish republicanism has contradicted its own past opposition to Europe
In its enthusiasm for the protocol, Irish republicanism has contradicted its own past opposition to Europe

In a recent article for the News Letter, Ruth Dudley Edwards urges unionists to become ‘more energised in challenging Sinn Fein’s misrepresentation and hate’ (‘It’s official — I am now a unionist!,’ February 1, see link below).

This is a sentiment I agree with when observing the obnoxious and hypocritical utterances of nationalism.

The question of the European Union is a case in point.

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In his book, ‘A New Ireland — A Vision for the Future’, Gerry Adams describes the EU as ‘the polar opposite of the democratic and anti-imperial outlook of Irish republicanism as well as democrats and progressive peoples all over Europe’.

When you witness the enthusiasm nationalism has for the protocol, you have to ask if Irish republicanism is contradicting itself or trying to take everyone for fools.

There are many parallels between the events of one hundred years ago and the present day.

Nationalist political figures describe the protocol as ‘a consequence of Brexit which the DUP campaigned for’ and the withdrawal agreement as ‘an international agreement between two jurisdictions’.

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Is this any different from saying that the partition of Ireland was ‘a consequence of nationalist self-determination pursued by Sinn Fein’ or that the Anglo-Irish Treaty was also ‘an agreement between two jurisdictions’?

Unionists should seek to challenge the duplicitous nature of nationalism when it comes to issues regarding the European Union, democracy and the protocol.

The withdrawal agreement does not bear a single signature of any unionist here in Northern Ireland whereas the Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed by leading nationalist political figures of the time, granting recognition to Ireland being partitioned.

If nationalists believe it is reasonable to spend every waking hour trying to revoke a treaty which bears their signatures then it is equally justified for unionists to seek to remove a protocol they have never signed.

Adrian Lonergan, Belfast, BT7

Ruth Dudley Edwards: It’s official – I am now a unionist!

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Related topics:Northern IrelandProtocolSinn FeinRuth Dudley EdwardsUnionists