Sir, - John Taylor's objections to the possible sale of the Belfast Telegraph to Independent Newspapers (The Irish Times, March 7th) are a timely reminder of the ever-closer relationship which is developing between the two economies on the island of Ireland.
However, Mr Taylor's concern that the issue is important in an all-Ireland context suggests the development of a new dilemma for Ulster Unionism. Historical resistance by the UUP to closer political ties between North and South, and the recent collapse of the institutions of the Belfast Agreement, enacted on behalf of the UUP, has led to a situation where the UUP has no appropriate office where it can raise this issue for discussion.
The irony of all of this is that Mr Taylor may actually have a case regarding monopoly in the Irish newspaper industry. However, nationalists will be forgiven for thinking that the biggest problem Mr Taylor and his colleagues have with this development is that a company run by Irish Catholics may end up purchasing the largest unionist newspaper in Northern Ireland. As such, to see him bolt suddenly onto the "all-Ireland" podium he has persistently heckled all his life will seem not a little pathetic. - Yours, etc.,
Conor Meade, Phibsboro, Dublin 7.