Hi °C | Lo °C • Aidan O'Sullivan points out that "Irish exports to the EU are nearly three times larger than those to the UK" (Letters, February 5) and concludes that "our future clearly lies within Europe – with or without Britain."
I take this to mean that it would be a grave mistake for Ireland to leave the EU.
However, the CSO's figures also show that if Britain is left out of the equation, we export about as much to the rest of the world as we do to the EU.
It is worth bearing in mind that not being members of the EU does not preclude a country from trading with EU-member states.
In 2011, Switzerland managed to export four-and-a half times as much per capita to the EU as Britain did – despite not actually being a member of the EU herself.
Brian T Hickey
Sráid Dúinsméara, Baile Átha Cliath
