PHILIP McGARRY,
Sir, - With the relapse of North Belfast into sectarian violence, it is timely to seek clarification of the Taoiseach's astonishing statement that Sinn Féin cannot be in Government in the Republic "because of the existence of the IRA". Given that the Irish Government has pursued unceasingly the participation of Sinn Féin in Government in Northern Ireland, I think the people of Ireland are entitled to a clear explanation of why the Government is simultaneously promoting two completely incompatible policies.
Last autumn the Alliance Party, in order to keep the Good Friday Agreement alive, asked three Assembly members to compromise their basic principles by temporarily designating themselves as Unionists for a week.This was for the sole purpose of setting up a Government which included Sinn Féin (despite the existence of the IRA!).
If a liberal,non-sectarian party is prepared to "bite the bullet" of Sinn Fein in Government, we are surely entitled to know from the leaders of nationalism in the Republic exactly why they are not willing to do likewise.
The renewal of bitter clashes in North Belfast reinforces the recent research from the University of Ulster which shows that, despite the great hopes and many positive developments, there has been a clear increase in segregation and sectarianism since the Belfast Agreement was signed.
The best antidote to these sinister developments would be for political leaders to adopt an approach of rigorous consistency, openness and integrity in all of their dealings. This would cause some discomfort. Unionists would have to treat Protestant paramilitaries with the same antipathy they have for the IRA. Non-Sinn Féin nationalists would have to clarify once and for all their response to continuing IRA beatings,shootings and killings of young Catholics.
Maybe the Republic might actually get a police ombudsman! Along with many others I shall look forward to the reasoned argument from the Irish Government concerning the integrity of its position on Sinn Féin in Government. - Yours, etc.,
PHILIP McGARRY,
Alliance Party,
Dorchester Park,
Belfast 9.