Sir, - You report the Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, and sources in the political parties in the North saying that there could be a break in the current talks without agreement (Sinn Fein under pressure to compromise on police issue", The Irish Times, February 23rd).
The one thing that is certain for the next British general election is that Tony Blair's majority will be reduced and, in the absence of an agreement, the anti-agreement forces in unionism will improve their position in elections in the North.
Henceforth, both in the elections and after them, Tony Blair's and David Trimble's room for manoeuvre will be reduced and they will have to look over their shoulders at the opposition, which will exert more pressure on them. So, now is as good as it gets.
The prognosis in the absence of an agreement now must be gloomy, with the consequent drift inevitably leading sooner or later to the return of an "acceptable level of violence".
Of course, Tony Blair and David Trimble could have greater room for manoeuvre over policing, and the political future of the island could be transformed, if the IRA made a gesture of demilitarisation and also spelled out how far it was prepared to go - and when - in a mutual demilitarisation with the British forces. - Yours, etc.,
Joe Murphy, The Square, Skerries, Co Dublin.