"One of the most dangerous and destabilising documents ... "

Alex Kane writes in the News Letter that "The Hillsborough document – for it really isn’t grand enough to be described as a deal or agreement – is one of the most dangerous and destabilising documents to have been put in the public domain. No unionist worthy of the name could support it".

Those are strong words from a man who recently resigned as Director of Communications of the UUP. In Section 5 the agreement says "The First Minister and deputy First Minister will oversee an exercise of examining the St Andrews Agreement and identifying all matters contained within it which have not been faithfully implemented or actioned."

If we examine the St Andrew's Agreement it talks about a North-South Parliamentary Forum. "The Northern Ireland Executive would encourage the parties in the Assembly to establish a North-South parliamentary forum bringing together equal numbers from the Oireachtas and the Assembly, and operating on an inclusive basis."

The St Andrew's Agreement also has a clause about the Irish Language: "The Government will introduce an Irish Language Act reflecting on the experience of Wales and [the Republic of] Ireland and work with the incoming Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language."

And if the beginning of an All-Ireland Parliament and an Irish Language act wasn't enough for Unionists, then St. Andrew's also outlines the possibility of more North-South Bodies. It says "under the auspices of the NSMC [the Governments] would appoint a Review Group to examine objectively ... the case for additional bodies and areas of co-operation within the NSMC".

It should be remembered that Hillsborough Castle was the location for the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. Unionists protested as they believed the RoI were given a say in running Northern Ireland. But now 25 years later, Unionists welcome the head of a foreign state during discussions about internal UK issues. And not only that, the DUP have set in motion a number of reviews that could further threaten Northern Ireland's position in the UK. Hillsborough Castle will come back to haunt the DUP.

Ireland's Call

The rugby internationals are almost upon us again, yet the same old problems remain. Ireland is supposed to represent two countries: Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. When there is a game in Dublin, they play the Soldier's Song - apparently to show respect to the President of the RoI and the country it is being played in. Yet when the Ireland team has played in Belfast, the IRFU refuse to show respect to Northern Ireland being part of the UK and therefore God Save the Queen is not played. The flag of the RoI is also flown in Dublin but again only rugby flags are allowed for Belfast games. The Northern Ireland minister for sport should make strong representations to the IRFU asking them to end their political agenda. If the IRFU can't accommodate Northern Ireland, then it's time for Northern Ireland to have its own separate rugby team, as happens with football. It's better to be a small country with limited resources than to be treated with disrespect by the Irish Nationalists in the IRFU.