What a turnip for the books in post-Brexit Britain

Letters to the Editor

An employee checks stock levels at the tomatoes section at a supermarket in London. Photo: REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

March 02 2023 02:30 AM

It is good to see the humble turnip back in the news following the remark of the UK’s environment secretary, Therese Coffey, that Britons could eat seasonal vegetables such as turnips instead of tomatoes and other vegetables currently in short supply (‘Britons left to eat turnips as shops forced to ration fresh vegetables’, Business, Irish Independent, February 24).

This is a far cry from the dismissive remark in 2019 of the UK’s then foreign secretary Liz Truss that the impact of a no-deal Brexit on Ireland would only ‘affect a few farmers with turnips in the back of their trucks’ (Liz Truss claimed Brexit bad only for “a few Irish farmers with turnips” – envoy’, Irish Independent, May 19, 2022).

From being dismissed to being prized Brexit has proved to be a turning point for the turnip at least.

John Glennon, Hollywood, Co Wicklow

Gerard O'Regan: Opinion Rishi Sunak’s protocol deal with EU has DUP over a barrel

Shooting of PSNI officer drags us back to the past

The attempted murder of PSNI officer John Caldwell at an Omagh sports centre was callous to say the least. That it happened in front of his son makes it all the more extraordinarily cruel, and I hope the victim makes a full recovery.

Sinn Féin was right to condemn the shooting. I thought this was in our past and that we could look to a better future for all our people. Unfortunately, there are people who will drag us back to the past.

Noel Harrington, Kinsale, Co Cork

Is Rishi admitting the single market is a good thing?

Has the British prime minister Rishi Sunak, finally “said the quiet bit out loud”?

As he praises his negotiating skills in making sure that Northern Ireland has full and easy access to the single market – something no other part of the UK has, and something that should be welcomed – is he admitting that being outside the single market is a bad thing?

Alan Fairbrother, address with editor

How Frankfurt affects daily life in the west of Ireland

I am sad to notice a very definite drop in cars parked in Sligo shopping centres over the past week. I guess the whopping interest rates rises on an over-borrowed populace are having an effect.

It appears that the Frankfurt-based European Central Bank’s cure for inflation is to kill our economy.

John F Higgins, Aylesbury Park, Sligo

Lara Williams: Opinion Why has a sensible urban planning idea like ‘15-minute cities’ been hijacked by conspiracy theorists?

Waiting game goes on for response of DUP to deal

I see that the newly agreed deal between the EU and the UK on the controversial Northern Ireland Protocol has started a waiting game to see how the DUP will respond.

DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has said his party will not be pushed into a hasty decision.

It must be realised that the DUP are firmly anchored in the 17th century when they came to Ulster with the Ulster Plantation.

Their allegiance has always been with the UK from whence they came.

They now fear that this tie to the UK may be weakened in some way.

It will be a huge 21st-century move for the DUP if they agree to the deal between the EU and the UK.

But while there is life, there is hope.

Chris O’Byrne, Renmore, Galway

The good counsel in reader’s letter on councils’ role in housing

In his excellent letter (‘Local authorities are key to sorting out our housing mess’, Letters, February 28), Hugh Duffy writes, “the provision of housing should be given back to where it was successful for the first 60 years of our State: the local authorities.”

The writer is spot on with his conclusion.

Social and affordable housing will never solve the problem and will only benefit the construction industry and their backers.

Local authorities, if given the resources can resolve the issue as they did so in the past.

Peter Mulvany, Clontarf, Dublin

Nation’s hopes and dreams rest on broad shoulders

The Irish rugby team is still looking good for a Grand Slam/ Triple Crown season and possibly a decent shot at a World Cup too – if we can get all of our top guys fit.

Can one imagine the euphoria if they were to bring home a Slam and World Cup in one calendar year?

This would be, without any doubt, Ireland’s greatest team sporting achievement.

David Ryan, Co Meath