> There was, however, a shot across the bows of his fellow nationalists and republicans.
The onus will be on them, he warned, to make everyone feel comfortable in a new constitutional arrangement – and that will mean respecting unionists’ British identity, being prepared to discuss what a future Irish flag and anthem might look like, and even being prepared to accept some kind of continuing devolved role for Stormont in a new 32-county state.
His argument is correct – when unification comes in the form of a border poll, there will be people who reject it and people who will abstain. The onus is on the majority to ensure that even these factions will get a voice on how this new Ireland will look.
It’s been shown again and again throughout political history that minorities that don’t feel represented will turn inward – and will turn to voilence ultimately.
Prestigious_Talk6652 on
Imagine having to deal with the unionist crew.
They’d argue about what day it is.
Smiley_Dub on
How much does GB put into NI? It’s billions of pounds no? How could this be afforded if it’s cut loose and re-united?
The3rdbaboon on
I don’t care about a united Ireland
MaelduinTamhlacht on
Of course. If it’s united, it has to be united, obv.
I would hope, though that Protestant-Catholic wouldn’t matter in the northern counties soon, in the same way it doesn’t matter in the south. Example: met a lady when our dogs were leaping in and out of a local river in Dublin the other day, and in the course of a conversation, mostly about dogs, she mentioned that she was a lay reader and clarified that this was in the Church of Ireland, and she was studying like mad for… something related. It was just a “what are you doing with yourself these days?” kind of aspect of the convo, and was just vaguely interesting; neither of us asked or answered any questions about it. This is normal in the south – religion is your own business.
FantasticMushroom566 on
Would a Swiss style of Federation or the Spanish style of autonomous regions interest us here in the republic and also everyone in the north? Cork, Belfast, Galway and Dublin as provincial capitals. Setting taxes and housing their own social policies.
There are obviously pros and cons and I know that the Dáil would never agree to it but sure look.
Edit: Turn Mullingar into the midlands version of Washington DC and seat the Federal Government there.
thepinkblues on
I mean obviously like??
NewryIsShite on
As someone from the north I absolutely loathe the idea of continued devolution of governmental power to some kind of 6 county entity.
The governmental structures set up under the GFA were fit for purpose in 1998, but today they systematically imbed sectarian division which in itself continues to propagate disunity.
Yes the north is quite a divisive region, but simultaneously the Stormont system operates in a way that makes this division inevitable.
If we don’t have a 32 county unitary state then we continue to have ‘Northern Ireland’, and fuck that.
Zealousideal-Fly6908 on
This just in: It takes two to tango
noisylettuce on
The United Ireland they are trying to sell us is under British rule.
It’s even been sold to us as pulling a fast one on the Brits, its ridiculous. Until we have an Irish government, Gardaí and media we shouldn’t entertain any of this zionist/unionist bullshit. They want the whole country and they’ve made huge inroads recently to this effect.
The USA that backed the GFA is gone and it won’t be possible to ever have such an agreement again.
Smiley_Dub on
I have my position and I’ll have to be convinced.
Please try and be courteous
awood20 on
He didn’t say ALL protestants and it won’t need all. In fact that’s impossible. There is some minority support there already. It won’t grow or shrink until a definitive plan is put in front of people. That plan will take the Irish gov to get involved to define it and back it. The impetus should be on the Irish gov to move this forward.
Freebee5 on
It’s rather ironic that NI loyalists biggest fear is that NI would be ruled just like they ruled it by creating a loyalist underclass instead of the republican underclass present for most of their rule.
Callme-Sal on
If we want to get Unionists on side, we will have to make some concessions to make them feel part of a new United Ireland. We can’t just ignore them as a minority.
I might get downvoted for this but I think Ireland joining the Commonwealth would be a reasonable concession to make and would help to get Unionists on board.
Joining the Commonwealth does not involve any loss of sovereignty or loss of our status as a fully independent Republic. It’s a group of countries that has shared history and cultural ties, albeit due to British colonialism. There’s 56 existing members, most of which are ex-colonised Republics similar to ourselves.
The King of the UK is the symbol head of the Commonwealth but that is not guaranteed and the head,as well as the Executive of the Commonwealth, is ultimately voted in by the Heads of Government of the member countries.
Upbeat-Use4312 on
I wouldn’t like it if we legitimised an invasion to appease unionists and racists.
earth-calling-karma on
The Protestant fundamentalist factions have been hijacking the politics of Britain for over a century – they’re good at it. Let them come in to a united Ireland and hijack the politics in Dublin – they’ll have more fun than they’re having in London these days anyways.
Ok_Leading999 on
I think they said that about an independent Ireland. The FS senate was set up to accommodate Protestants who were abandoned by the British government. Ultimately most of the abandoned loyalists accepted the new regime or moved to Britain. Frankly that’s what should happen in NI once a majority decides on reunification. There’s no more a case to be made for a parliament in Belfast than there is for one in Cork or Galway.
SWGoH123 on
If there’s a referendum in the republic, I’ll be voting against reunification. I don’t like the idea of footing a £10,000,000,000 *per annum* bill to keep them afloat. The argument for reunification is an emotional one, not a logical one.
massivejebs on
I’ll do what’s best for me. I don’t care about bitter irrational ideology one way or the other.
19 Comments
> There was, however, a shot across the bows of his fellow nationalists and republicans.
The onus will be on them, he warned, to make everyone feel comfortable in a new constitutional arrangement – and that will mean respecting unionists’ British identity, being prepared to discuss what a future Irish flag and anthem might look like, and even being prepared to accept some kind of continuing devolved role for Stormont in a new 32-county state.
His argument is correct – when unification comes in the form of a border poll, there will be people who reject it and people who will abstain. The onus is on the majority to ensure that even these factions will get a voice on how this new Ireland will look.
It’s been shown again and again throughout political history that minorities that don’t feel represented will turn inward – and will turn to voilence ultimately.
Imagine having to deal with the unionist crew.
They’d argue about what day it is.
How much does GB put into NI? It’s billions of pounds no? How could this be afforded if it’s cut loose and re-united?
I don’t care about a united Ireland
Of course. If it’s united, it has to be united, obv.
I would hope, though that Protestant-Catholic wouldn’t matter in the northern counties soon, in the same way it doesn’t matter in the south. Example: met a lady when our dogs were leaping in and out of a local river in Dublin the other day, and in the course of a conversation, mostly about dogs, she mentioned that she was a lay reader and clarified that this was in the Church of Ireland, and she was studying like mad for… something related. It was just a “what are you doing with yourself these days?” kind of aspect of the convo, and was just vaguely interesting; neither of us asked or answered any questions about it. This is normal in the south – religion is your own business.
Would a Swiss style of Federation or the Spanish style of autonomous regions interest us here in the republic and also everyone in the north? Cork, Belfast, Galway and Dublin as provincial capitals. Setting taxes and housing their own social policies.
There are obviously pros and cons and I know that the Dáil would never agree to it but sure look.
Edit: Turn Mullingar into the midlands version of Washington DC and seat the Federal Government there.
I mean obviously like??
As someone from the north I absolutely loathe the idea of continued devolution of governmental power to some kind of 6 county entity.
The governmental structures set up under the GFA were fit for purpose in 1998, but today they systematically imbed sectarian division which in itself continues to propagate disunity.
Yes the north is quite a divisive region, but simultaneously the Stormont system operates in a way that makes this division inevitable.
If we don’t have a 32 county unitary state then we continue to have ‘Northern Ireland’, and fuck that.
This just in: It takes two to tango
The United Ireland they are trying to sell us is under British rule.
It’s even been sold to us as pulling a fast one on the Brits, its ridiculous. Until we have an Irish government, Gardaí and media we shouldn’t entertain any of this zionist/unionist bullshit. They want the whole country and they’ve made huge inroads recently to this effect.
The USA that backed the GFA is gone and it won’t be possible to ever have such an agreement again.
I have my position and I’ll have to be convinced.
Please try and be courteous
He didn’t say ALL protestants and it won’t need all. In fact that’s impossible. There is some minority support there already. It won’t grow or shrink until a definitive plan is put in front of people. That plan will take the Irish gov to get involved to define it and back it. The impetus should be on the Irish gov to move this forward.
It’s rather ironic that NI loyalists biggest fear is that NI would be ruled just like they ruled it by creating a loyalist underclass instead of the republican underclass present for most of their rule.
If we want to get Unionists on side, we will have to make some concessions to make them feel part of a new United Ireland. We can’t just ignore them as a minority.
I might get downvoted for this but I think Ireland joining the Commonwealth would be a reasonable concession to make and would help to get Unionists on board.
Joining the Commonwealth does not involve any loss of sovereignty or loss of our status as a fully independent Republic. It’s a group of countries that has shared history and cultural ties, albeit due to British colonialism. There’s 56 existing members, most of which are ex-colonised Republics similar to ourselves.
The King of the UK is the symbol head of the Commonwealth but that is not guaranteed and the head,as well as the Executive of the Commonwealth, is ultimately voted in by the Heads of Government of the member countries.
I wouldn’t like it if we legitimised an invasion to appease unionists and racists.
The Protestant fundamentalist factions have been hijacking the politics of Britain for over a century – they’re good at it. Let them come in to a united Ireland and hijack the politics in Dublin – they’ll have more fun than they’re having in London these days anyways.
I think they said that about an independent Ireland. The FS senate was set up to accommodate Protestants who were abandoned by the British government. Ultimately most of the abandoned loyalists accepted the new regime or moved to Britain. Frankly that’s what should happen in NI once a majority decides on reunification. There’s no more a case to be made for a parliament in Belfast than there is for one in Cork or Galway.
If there’s a referendum in the republic, I’ll be voting against reunification. I don’t like the idea of footing a £10,000,000,000 *per annum* bill to keep them afloat. The argument for reunification is an emotional one, not a logical one.
I’ll do what’s best for me. I don’t care about bitter irrational ideology one way or the other.