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The Taoiseach has received a letter signed by 1,000 nationalists asking it to defend the rights of Irish citizens north of the border in a climate of uncertainty caused by the political crisis of Brexit and Stormont.
The letter to Leo Varadkar was signed by actors, academics, professional athletes, entrepreneurs, lawyers, teachers, doctors and various personalities of civic nationalism.
Signatories include Irish international footballer James McClean, actors Adrian Dunbar and Ciaran McMenamin, director Jim Sheridan and folk musicians Tommy Sands and Colm Sands.
Two similar letters have been written at Taoiseach in the last 12 months, one of a number of nationalists based in Northern Ireland and one of nationalists residing south of the border.
The latest, which was sent Friday and published today in the Irish News in the form of a two-page advertisement, carries the greatest number of signatures and is an effort on all the islands.
The letter welcomes Mr Varadkar's pledge to defend the interests of Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland through the Brexit process, while blaming Stormont for the power-sharing stalemate that has taken place. given the absence of a decentralized government for almost two years, for having "denied" certain "rights" to people north of the border.
He points out that the opposition of democratic unionists to same-sex marriage and the adoption of an Irish language law are two major concerns.
The letter adds: "As you know, these rights are now taken for granted by citizens of other regions of these islands.
"The British Conservative government has been unable to make progress on these rights issues because of its reliance on DUP.
"The Brexit threatens to worsen the rights crisis and there is a real risk of serious erosion of the current guarantees."
Regarding Brexit, the letter raises concerns regarding access to free healthcare in EU countries. a potential increase in the cost of university attendance in the Irish Republic; and the fact that Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland are no longer represented in the European Parliament.
The letter continues: "It is quite possible to strengthen the partition and further divide our country and our people.
"This is a source of serious concern for all of us.
"As Irish citizens, we urge you to respect your commitment never to be left behind by an Irish government" and to redouble efforts, as well as those of your government, to ensure that our rights are protected. "
Plans for the latest letter were announced last month by the Co Fermanagh-based newspaper Impartial Reporter, which interviewed the Enniskillen-born actor, Mr. McMenamin, about the reasons for his signature.
He told the newspaper that he feared that the imposition of a hard border after Brexit was at the root of violence.
"Brexit and a border causing violence is a possibility and should never be neglected, but Brexit and a border causing economic chaos is a fact totally neglected by the DUP," he said.
"It will not make anyone more British, it will only make everyone poorer."
Belfast attorney Niall Murphy, who helped draft the letter, said that each section of nationalist civic life was represented among the signatories.
"The fact that this letter is signed by more than a thousand leaders of the nationalist community bears witness to the evolution of the earthquake in terms of awakening nationalist confidence," he said. .
"The 1,000 names are symbolic, the letter is not a petition, but a representative sample of the opinions of hundreds of thousands of people in the north and even across the island."
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