Ireland, the EU and Brexit debate

Sir, – "Is Brexit the new Y2K?" asks Dermot O'Rourke (November 10th). And like Y2K, Brexit will probably come and go with more of a whimper than a bang, no aircraft will fall from the sky, and our economy will muddle on as before. Psychologically, most British people exited themselves from the EU a long time ago, or never really felt part of it. Any one who visits the UK knows that the average citizen there has little or no interest in "Europe", apart from as a holiday destination, feels no obligation towards it, recognises no benefits from it, does not enjoy a legacy of motorways or other infrastructure because of it, won't use its currency, and is too urbanised to appreciate any agricultural subsidies or grants from it. An old "Empire" mentality still exists in Britain, and any other language, currency or political system bar its own is only fit for Johnny Foreigner.

Britain looks on Ireland as a useful trading partner. That is not going to change. It does not see us as a European partner.

Ukip may be extreme, but sadly represents a mostly hidden, sometimes overt, state of mind. The only reason Brexit may not happen will be because Britain has managed to secure a situation whereby it becomes even more isolationist within the EU.

Is this the sort of European partner we really need or want? – Yours, etc,

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RODNEY DEVITT,

Sandymount, Dublin 4.

Sir, – All these Brexit negotiations are letting David Cameron pose as a statesman. Ludicrous. – Yours, etc,

MARY KAVANAGH,

Bray, Co Wicklow.