AUTHOR AND playwright Bonnie Greer instantly became a beloved figure in Ireland last week after a clip of her appearing on the BBC show Question Time went viral for her comments on the UK's relationship with Ireland.
With the Brexit deadline looming, the American-British writer said:
“Oftentimes, I hear people talking about Ireland as if this country owns Ireland,”
“Ireland owes this country nothing. Ireland owes this country no concessions, it owes it no quarter, it owes it nothing.”
She went on to warn that the UK government must protect the peace process in Northern Ireland, particularly the Good Friday Agreement, when she said "In spite of its rather benign name, the Good Friday Agreement is a truce, and it’s a truce because the United States of America and the EU sat down with this country to make it happen. We have to be much more serious about this."
If there were any more reasons to love Bonnie Greer, well I’ve just found one:
“Ireland owes this country nothing”
She clearly states what the US legislature have been saying all along. If the GFA is broken, a US/UK trade deal is not viable. #BBCQT pic.twitter.com/DjNZzxrQEL— Dr. Jennifer Cassidy (@OxfordDiplomat) October 3, 2019
The author's comments received a very warm reception in Ireland, and now Ms Greer has reiterated her views during an interview on a British radio show.
Appearing on Newstalk Breakfast on Saturday October 5th, Ms Greer said that "A lot of English are walking around actually stuck, not in 2019, but in 1939."
"People of the United Kingdom don't seem to have a lot of understanding about Ireland."
"That partly is because of the Conservative Party, which has a stake in keeping a relationship with the DUP because their coalition partner doesn't choose to actually emphasise the fact that Northern Ireland is evolved."
"Northern Ireland voted remain, and for good reason I'm sure. None of this is on the table for the majority of British people who are very heavily dependent on the press."
"They go around looking at Ireland like it's some sort of evil, sneaky, treacherous entity, when Ireland is Europe, Ireland has enormous power, Ireland is a major trading power.
"I mean, how stupid can you be?"
The UK is due to leave the EU at the end of this month.
