Viewpoint

Conversations with hard line Ulster Unionists often end with the question, “What have we got out of the peace process since the Good Friday agreement? The Republicans have had their terrorists released, they've got a place in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Royal Ulster Constabulary is losing its old status. They've won. What have we got?” The root of the problem for Protestant Unionists has always been their deep seated fear that Northern Ireland would one day somehow be subsumed in the Irish Republic, both politically and in a religious sense. It was true that the Republic's constitution included an aspiration that such a take over should one day become reality. It is therefore surprising that the Unionists cannot see that the peace process has won them the biggest prize of all: the removal of this offending clause of the Republic's constitution and the guarantee by the British government that there can be no change in Northern Ireland's status without a majority vote in favour.