Sir, - John Bruton believes that the referendum on the Mitchell Agreement was "a valid exercise in national self-determination". (The Irish Times, September 3rd).
The Agreement itself plainly states (page 3): "It is hereby declared that Northern Ireland in its entirety remains part of the United Kingdom and shall not cease to be so without the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland voting in a poll held for the purposes of this section in accordance with Schedule 1".
That declaration means that "minority" Irish people have no real say in the matter. Having to remain under British rule cannot logically be one and the same as Irish self-determination.
The Agreement also states (page 2) that the two Governments "recognise that it is for the people of the island of Ireland alone, by agreement between the two parts respectively and without external impediment, to exercise their right of self-determination on the basis of consent, freely and concurrently given, North and South, to bring about a united Ireland, if that is their wish, accepting that this right must be achieved and exercised with and subject to the agreement and consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland".
The right of self-determination is a separate issue from a "wish" for a united Ireland. Moreover, it is safe to say that the Ulster Protestant people will never wish for or freely consent to a united Ireland. On that score it is a lost cause.
As things stand, the people in the Republic have achieved self-determination. Likewise, the Ulster Protestant people have achieved separate self-determination and separate statehood. But "minority" Irish people in Northern Ireland are prevented from exercising self-determination - prevented essentially by the external impediment of British rule. - Yours, etc., Malachy Scott,
Clanchattan Street,
Belfast.