Sir, - Robert McCartney's piece (The Irish Times, January 26th) was depressingly predictable. He sees the Council of the Isles and the proposed changes to Articles Two and Three as mere cosmetic measures; yet he sees the Ministerial Council and the proposed changes to the Government of Ireland Act as being full of sinister significance.
His article echoes his ally in the anti-peace coalition, Ruairi O Bradaigh. The spin was different of course - Mr O Bradaigh sees the cosmetic where Mr McCartney sees the meaningful, and vice-versa - but their shared paranoia about the intentions of the British Government is strikingly similar.
The parties in the peace process have, merely by signing up to the "three-strand" talks, acknowledged the need for both Irish and British dimensions to Northern Ireland. The anti-peace coalition, on the other hand, is composed of one-dimensional beings. They disagree as to whether the one dimension is to be British or Irish, but are firmly agreed that there can be only one dimension.
Yes, those who stand aloof from the peace process can find flaws in it - nobody claims it's perfect - but can they offer a realistic alternative? They speak of one-dimensional unions and republics; but we've heard it all before. The real alternative to the peace process is the INLA and the LVF. I am not saying that Mr McCartney supports violence, but his attacks on the peace process give comfort and succour to those who do.
What is the alternative to the peace process? And is it a real alternative, based on the reality of a Northern Ireland which has both an Irish and British identity? The hurlers on the ditch have been let off the hook for too long. - Yours, etc.,
Walnut Grove, Wexford.