Sir, – John Bruton’s suggestion that, should the UK exit the EU, there would be passport controls at the Border pre- supposes that the Republic would continue its membership of the EU even if the UK ceased to be a member (“Bruton warns of passport controls at Border if UK leaves EU”, Opinion & Analysis, September 25th). When the UK joined the Common Market, as it was then, the Republic did likewise simply because the UK was its main trading partner. That remains the case and so, if the UK withdrew from the EU as now seems possible, it would be logical and in the best interests of trade and travel within our islands that the Republic should also withdraw. The possibility of border controls would therefore no longer arise! – Yours, etc,

Lord KILCLOONEY,

Mullinure,

Armagh.