4 NEWS MONDAY DECEMBER 11 2017 BREXIT Open letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar A Thaoisigh, a chara, threatens to reinforce partition on this WE are writing this letter to you as Irish island and revisit a sense of abandonment citizens living in the north of Ireland as experienced by our parents and to express our frustration and growing grandparents. concern over the deepening nature of the The fact that a majority of voters in the ongoing political crises in the north. north of Ireland voted to remain within the We are committed to human rights and EU must not be ignored. cherish our Irish cultural traditions and Against the stated will of a majority of our Irish national identity, as do hundreds voters in the north, and notwithstanding of thousands of others living in this part of recent announcements, Brexit pushes us our country. all into unchartered territory, with huge We value equality for all citizens yet uncertainty for business and the economy, continue to be denied rights afforded to all and continuing doubts about what this others living on these islands. will mean in reality for Irish and European We fully endorse the recent call from citizens living in this region. human rights groups and others on this We, our children and grandchildren should island for no regression on rights and not be forced out of the EU against our equality and respect for the principle of democratic will. equivalence. All of this is offensive and unacceptable to In 1998 the overwhelming population of us and many others. the country voted in favour of the Good Despite the British government’s co-equal Friday Agreement. and internationally binding responsibility In recent years we have observed a for overseeing the Peace Process with the concerted undermining of the political Irish government, we have no confidence institutions established under the Good in its commitment to do so with Friday Agreement and a laissez-faire impartiality or objectivity. approach being adopted by the two This is most recently instanced in the governments as co-guarantors of the Good British Government’s refusal to move on Friday Agreement. legacy inquest rights. The Conservative We believe that the current crisis has come Party’s political pact with the DUP has about fundamentally due to a failure to now become a grave threat to political both implement & defend the Good Friday progress. and St Andrew’s Agreements. We appeal urgently to you taoiseach, and The result has been a denial and refusal to the Irish government, to reassure us of of equality, rights and respect towards your commitment to stand for equality and the section of the community to which we a human rights based society and your belong, as well as everyone living here. determination to secure and protect the The impending reality of Brexit now rights of all citizens in the north of Ireland. n APPEAL: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar List of signatories Academia James Conlon, Tyrone Gerry O’Reilly, Armagh Clara Reilly, Antrim Caitlin Bunting, Antrim Sport Prof Bill Rolston, Antrim Ciarán Mackel, Down Bernard Boyle, Armagh Fr Gary Donegan, Fermanagh Rosie Kinnear, Antrim Peter Canavan, Tyrone Prof Patricia Lundy, Antrim Eamon Blaney, Down Anthony Havern, Armagh Eugene Reavey, Armagh Eamon McLaughlin, Antrim Tommy Shaw, Antrim Prof Mark McGovern, Derry Christine Jones, Down Pat McCorley, Antrim Gerard Rice, Antrim Sean G Doherty BL, Derry Kieran McKeever, Derry Dr Michael Pierse, Antrim Stephen Thompson, Antrim James Toal, Antrim Damien Lindsay, Antrim Darragh Mackin, Antrim Tony Scullion, Derry Prof Phil Scraton, Antrim Shaun McElhinney, Derry Charlie Keenan, Antrim Angela Hegarty, Derry Martin Durkan, Down Paddy Bradley, Derry Prof Colin Harvey, Derry Seamus Ó hAodha, Down Thomas McStocker, Antrim Paul O’Connor, Derry Paul Foster BL, Derry Ciaran McLaughlin, Tyrone An Ghaeilge Johnny Kelly, Tyrone Jim Clinton, Antrim Tish Holland, Antrim Blaine Nugent BL, Tyrone Conor Gormley, Tyrone Aisling NÍ Labhraí, Antrim Brian McGirr, Tyrone Gerry Carlile, Antrim Education Michelle McDonnell, Tyrone Eamon Lindsay, Tyrone Dr Feargal Mac Ionnrachtaigh, Chris Conwell, Fermanagh Damien Brown, Derry Bernard O’Connor, Fermanagh Sinead Larkin, Armagh John Lynch, Tyrone Antrim Eamon Fitzpatrick, Fermanagh Kieran Kennedy, Tyrone Lorette Gleeson, Fermanagh Ciaran Roddy BL, Derry Paddy Cunningham, Antrim Dr Antaine Ó Donnaile, Armagh Gerry Hicks, Fermanagh Community Seamus Ó Tuama, Antrim Brian G McCartney QC SC, Patrick McBride, Antrim Ciarán Ó Pronntaigh, Antrim Martin Carey, Fermanagh Fr Joe McVeigh, Fermanagh Mairead Ní Chonghaile, Antrim Antrim Ronan McNamee, Tyrone Ciarain Mac Cearáin, Derry Mary Connolly, Fermanagh Aodhán Harkin, Tyrone Gearoid MacRoibeaird, Antrim Patricia Coyle, Derry Neil McManus, Antrim Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin, Sheamus Cosgrove, Joe Duffy, Armagh Marie McBride, Antrim Claire McKeegan, Antrim Terence McNaughton, Antrim Antrim Fermanagh Ciarán Mac Airt, Antrim Caireann Uí Mhuireagáin, Peter Corrigan, Tyrone Tommy Quinn, Antrim Niall Ó Catháin, Derry Thomas McAloon, Fermanagh Marie Quiery, Down Antrim Katie Dowling, Antrim Gary O’Kane, Antrim Éilís Ní Chaiside, Derry Patrick Magee, Antrim Annie Armstrong, Antrim Liam Ó Flannagáin, Derry Marie Hans, Tyrone Gregory O’Kane, Antrim Dr Pádraig Ó Tiarnaigh, Down Ciaran McCavana, Antrim Harry Connolly, Antrim Padraig Mac an tSaoir, Antrim Neil Fox BL, Antrim Mark Carey, Antrim Arts Dougie Adams, Antrim Kevin Gamble, Antrim Máire Darragh, Antrim Pearse McDermott, Derry Ross Carr, Down Michele Devlin, Down Peter Curistan, Antrim Pilib Ó Ruanaí, Down Health Paddy McDermott, Derry Conor Laverty, Down Eibhlin Ní Dhochartaigh, Derry Jane Adams, Antrim Seamus de Leaduis, Dr Peter Murphy, Antrim Chris McCann, Antrim Chrissy McKaigue, Derry Conor Caldwell, Antrim Sean Napier, Antrim Fermanagh Dr John McSparran, Antrim John Keown, Down Kevin Madden, Antrim Rónan Bennett, Antrim Brian O’Neill, Derry Oliver McCaffrey, Fermanagh Dr Brendan McDonald, Tyrone Joe McVeigh, Antrim James McClean, Derry Dr Brian Ferran, Antrim John McGowan, Derry Frank Liddy, Antrim Law Kevin Winters, Down Michael McCann, Antrim Ray Giffen, Down Gareth Creaney, Antrim Conal McDevitt, Derry Pat Fahy, Tyrone Anna Nugent, Down Justin Crozier, Antrim John McSherry, Antrim Frank Cullen, Antrim Alison O Neill, Antrim Peter Madden, Antrim Paul Pierce, Antrim Cathy Rooney, Antrim Eamonn Murray, Antrim Gerard de Brún, Antrim John Kelly, Derry Padraig Ó Muirigh, Antrim Sean Pol Begley, Tyrone Paddy Barnes, Antrim Barry Kerr, Antrim Rosemary McKenna, Antrim Conal McFeely, Derry Adrian O Kane, Tyrone Media Michael Conlan, Antrim Tony Devlin, Antrim Andy McCallin, Antrim Seamas Heaney, Derry Michael Fahy, Tyrone Maria McCourt, Antrim Jamie Conlan, Antrim Terry George, Down Jim Conlon, Antrim Ciara Ferguson, Derry Des Fahy BL, Tyrone Patricia McBride, Derry Aoife Ní Chasaide, Derry Pearse Elliott, Antrim Peter Quinn, Fermanagh Davy Cunningham, Down Colin Gervin BL, Tyrone Brian Feeney, Antrim Shannon Lynch, Tyrone Seamie O’Neill, Antrim Seamus McMullan, Antrim Conor Murray, Derry Frank McManus, Fermanagh Colm Dore, Antrim Benny Tierney, Armagh Oorlagh George, Down Tony Shivers, Antrim Michelle Kelly, Antrim Anna McHugh BL, Tyrone Dr Jude Collins, Antrim Enda McNulty, Armagh JB Vallely, Armagh Dominic Kearns, Antrim Elizabeth McStocker, Antrim Ciaran Toner, Antrim Martin Shannon, Fermanagh Paddy Bradley, Derry Donal O’Connor, Down Cathal McAteer, Antrim Peter Bunting, Down Michael Crawford, Antrim Robin Livingstone, Antrim Ciaran McKeever, Armagh Malachi Cush, Tyrone James Thornton, Antrim Andrée Murphy, Antrim Niall Murphy, Antrim Barry McCaffrey, Antrim Danny Hughes, Down Business Leo Carey, Antrim Mark Thompson, Antrim John Finucane, Antrim Sonia Nic Giolla Easpaig, Derry Joe Kernan, Armagh.