We should have stayed in UK currency union

It’s not just because of the current Greek problem, there is ongoing turbulence with the euro. Ireland already had its share. Then there was Cyprus and Portugal.

Now prime minister, David Cameron of Britain wants a vote on leaving the EU. And to add more fuel to the fire, after last week’s election results,we have the Danes, a country very similar to ours, deciding they may follow the UK with a vote on membership.

A question recently mooted: If Greece leaves the euro, can the British offer the Irish people the opportunity to come back into the sterling zone? Its an interesting question; after all we had currency union for around 60 years.

At the time of entering the European Union we may have fared better if we followed Britain’s lead and stuck with sterling.

While having the trading advantage of the EU block, we would also have better currency stability by staying with our biggest and most convenient trading partner.

The greatest lure for the Irish people at the time of entry was the simplicity of operating the single currency in trade and travel, rather than considering the overall economic advantage.

Forgetting past differences, the UK will always be wealthy and would be a powerful currency partner.

Even more important still, such a union could be a strategic and peaceful approach to eventually achieving a United Ireland.

James Gleeson

The Grove

Thurles

Co.Tipperary.