Ireland’s bluff called

This letter was sent by our Chairman, Edward Spalton, to the Scottish Daily Record in response to an article which appeared in the paper on 27th November.

Sir,

( I was visiting, so chanced to read your article “Dublin Down” p4, Monday 27 November).

For an EU document, Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union is unusually short and easy to understand.

It is quite clear that the arrangements for a country to leave the EU are to be agreed by the European Council under the Qualified Majority procedure. The Council’s decision is then subject to approval by the EU parliament.

Neither the Irish government nor any single member state has a power of veto. I am no longer surprised at the ignorance of our politicians which allows the threat of a veto by the Irish Prime Minister to go unchallenged.  But I live in hopes of better informed newspaper correspondents!

Unwillingness to consult original EU documents is widespread in high places. At a recent private meeting of top business leaders in London, nobody put up their hand when asked if they had even skim-read an EU Free Trade Agreement. Former civil servants who were present said this was true of ministers they had served.

Of course, most such documents are long and crashingly boring but this is not true of Article 50.

Yours faithfully

Edward Spalton