I was moved to write a letter to Metro free sheet last week, on the subject of the mooted visit by the Queen to Ireland. Being honest it’s not an issue I’m terribly excited about either way, and for the record I don’t have a problem with her visit, but I did take issue with another writer who had declared the North as ‘over and done with’ and that it was time to move on. Yes, it is time to move on, but forwards, not backwards is my view. Here’s what I wrote:

“I take issue with your letter writer of Thurs 10th, who states that in voting for the Good Friday agreement (GFA) we accepted permanent British rule in Northern Ireland (NI) and that we should now move on from the whole process. The GFA was a complex, multi-faceted arrangement which finally enshrined civil liberties in NI, provided a legislative basis for Irish citizens living in the six counties whilst recognising the desire of unionists to remain allied to the UK. As well as removing articles 2 & 3 from the Irish constitution, the British Government of Ireland act 1920 and the act of Union 1800 were also repealed. Unionists remain within the UK until a majority vote to change. This was an astounding piece of legislation and marked a huge step forward on the ‘national question’. Whilst including many concrete and solid provisions, to enable things to move on the agreement also featured much use of ‘constructive ambiguity’ ie there were a lot of aspirational passages which left enough room for all sides to secure support for the deal. However I think most of us, then and now saw the realpolitik, regarding the GFA as a stepping stone, paving the way towards eventual unity and in the interim providing a middle ground where nationalists and unionists could come to know one another in a supportive and safe environment.

It is now ten years since the agreement was signed. The DUP who alone opposed the talks now work the executive in style. The incredible working and personal relationship between Dr. Paisley and Martin McGuinness continues to astound. Co-operation on all-Ireland issues grows daily across more and more streams of industry and government. Unionists look winsomely at our euro currency and celtic tiger economy. Sinn Fein have abandoned the guns and have representatives in parliament both sides of the island. Fianna Fáil are about to become an all-Ireland party.

The British queen is welcome to visit Ireland, as an independent nation standing along on an equal footing, we owe a respect to our neighbouring nation, no longer our opressor but our peer, friend even.

But let us not consider Northern Ireland as ‘finished busines’. Rather, we are only getting started…”