An Anglo-Irish council of hope

Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin raises a useful question when he worries that the “familial relationship” that Ireland and Britain have developed over the decades as joint members of the European Union might begin to fade away on February 1, the date on which the UK will — given the now certain ratification of the re-negotiated withdrawal treaty — cease membership of the EU’s political assemblies.

It’s a serious worry, since not only the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement, but also the future of trade links and security co-operation, require the closest possible Anglo-Irish relationships.