Unionism must accept the Protocol is here to stay it is the consequence of Brexit

THE DUP has a long history of political errors. Their current faux pa's, enthusiastically supporting a Brexit campaign with no obvious economic benefits for *orthern Ireland, a catastrophic blunder.

     THE DUP: Just blamed Sinn Féin for                                   Brexit! 

Not surprisingly, they failed to articulate any potential improvements from Brexit or address any of the potential adverse consequences. 

Nelson Mccausland noted, with a reckless candour, that he did not care about the consequences. This echoed the irrational approach to Europe of their founder (Big Ian) who viewed the EU as a product of the anti-Christ (Pope) as prophesied in the Book of Revelations. Ultimately, they assumed that Brexit would distance Britain from the Republic of Ireland and copper fasten the union.

.                   The Burning Bush 

The DUP completely failed to understand how UK withdrawal from the EU would alienate nationalists living in border areas whose daily life and livelihood would be seriously disrupted.

Sammy Wilson claimed that the widespread application of electronic devices could mitigate any negative impact of Brexit on cross-border trade. He is now strangely reticent about how this system could be applied to obviate the curtailment of cross-channel trade.

The threat of a hard land border in Ireland was cunningly and hyprocritically exploited by Sinn Féin who made a dramatic volte-face. 

Republicans, long-time Euro sceptics, incredibly morphed into committed Europeans. What makes the EU now so acceptable to them?

If the DUP had any understanding of nationalism the alarm bells should have been ringing. But as we know the DUP is tone deaf.

Unloved Brexit begot the highly contentious protocol which in turn generated misguided nationalist euphoria based on the assumption that it would distance *orthern Ireland from Great Britain and accelerate Irish unification. However, there is every reason to believe that nationalists will also be collateral damage with the introduction of the protocol. *orthern Ireland will be goverened by two sets of conflicting rules imposed without consultation or consent. 

These regulations will apply to a wide range of activities within *orthern Ireland including health care. This will undoubtedly increase administion costs and complexities - thus impairing performance. The problems will only increase as GB and EU regulations diverge further in the future. We may reasonably ask if the protocol is a viable proposition.

Both the DUP and Sinn Féin have been driven mainly by constitutional considerations in response to Brexit with the protocol setting *orthern Ireland on the road to a very uncertain future. 

Former PM Terence O'Neill once said that "Ulster was at a crossroads". It would now appear to be at spaghetti junction without a sat nav heading for uncharted territory.

Written by George Workman, Donabate, Co Dublin.