With the leader of the main Unionist party applauding speeches calling the GFA 'iniquitous' and 'deceit' are the upcoming elections a test for the seminal agreement?
It's hard to know what will happen if the DUP manage to get their vote out and maintain the majority vote.
That's a right bestowed by Britain, nothing we can do about it, if they want to continue to offer it.
Never was a concern of mine and never will be. Are you worried they might stop offering it?
Right... That's just the maddest assertion.
Pretty happy that I do understand it. The GFA works both ways.
Fine, if you want to be an Irish citizen, not if you want the right to be a British citizen.
It is quite incredible to see the Little Irelander resistance to the idea of keeping the birthright to be British in Northern Ireland in the event of a united Ireland. Quite something.
Quote from letter sent out by Helen McEntee, to new Irish citizens. Nothing exclusionary about Irish identity in that.
''It’s important to know that becoming an Irish citizen does not mean giving up your identity from your homeland. It is an integral part of who you are and how you have come to be here today. We want you to share your culture, traditions and stories with us. Over time they will become part of the fabric of our society and we will be richer for it.''
Who's removing the right to anything? Have you found your latest little battle that you feel the need to go on and on about despite nobody suggesting anything of the sort?
I commend that you're reading the GFA with such regularity, but it's probably time for you to start understanding what it says rather than what you want it to say to build up your weekly strawman.
Want to try reading that again?
I don't think you understand what that passage actually means.
There is no right to be American, Polish, Chinese or Ukrainian by birthright in this country.
There is a right to be British by birthright in Northern Ireland. As I said already, taking that right away would be a breach of your beloved GFA and could be considered by some to be a form of ethnic cleansing.
The naked desire on these pages to create a homogenous exclusive Irish identity on this island is pretty scary.
You have the right to be American, Polish, Chinese, Ukrainian in this country, why would the right to identify as British be any issue for anyone?
I am not pointing fingers at anyone, but indirect pressure, such as the removal of the right to be British could well be considered ethnic cleansing, depending on the definition.
I just do not like the language and very personal to me to clarify...
I have quite a few UK friends and smuggle the odd bottle from NI... I find the people i come across very pleasant...
"the aim of ethnic cleansing is to establish ethnic homogeneity, which does not necessarily mean mass killings, but can be achieved by other methods."
Eliminating the right to be British-born on this island could well be considered a form of ethnic cleansing.
Sorry i made an error in my wording as i should have said decide to instead of sent to...
So if what i am saying happens i assumed it be better for people to have Irish passports and be part of EU but they could stay here and put up with the travel delays for non EU citizens...
Ethnic Clensing is very strong and inappropriate language... there is a lot of work to be done... i did apologise for sent to error...
From the GFA:
"(vi) recognise the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as Irish or British, or both, as they may so choose, and accordingly confirm that their right to hold both British and Irish citizenship is accepted by both Governments and would not be affected by any future change in the status of Northern Ireland. "
Perpetuity?
Care to tell us what it was you were reading that has you so fixated on this concept and indeed the use of this word as it regards British nationality law in relation to Ireland?
Would be nice to get some insight.
Sorry, but the GFA has given those people the right to be born on this island and regard themselves as British in perpetuity.
Taking that away and sending them to the UK is not compatible with the GFA. Whatever form a united Ireland takes, it has to respect and protect that right.
Ah that's the whole ethnic cleansing type idea but then as pointed out above, your ideas are a bit all over the place.
Not unusual though. I'd regard myself as fairly well up on current affairs and politics in the Republic. But occasionally I tune into something BBC NI and watch some of the debates there and realise that I really know little enough of the ins and outs of NI politics and society. You'd want to be living in it daily to have a good grasp. For sure, it's a place apart from the south. Different preoccupations, agendas and views.
And probably the same for NI residents - they'd know little enough of the ins and outs of the south.
What politkicians say and do is not always the same... its only a couple of weeks ago that FF/FG were canvessing in NI to divide the nationalist vote so SF would not have 1st minister... it may be for a different reason but thats what it looks like... Now all of a sudden a complete turn around and these same people want a border poll... SF as 1st minister be a complete game changer if it happens there will be big changes on this Island in the (north and south) in the next 10 years or so... I think it will be led by others and the end result likely be good for everyone...
There are a good few people born on the Island who regard themselves as British... some of these people decided recently to get Irish passports because of Brexit... If we do end up with a UI these people are already Irish citizens... the ones who hold British passports will likely have to move to UK and i expect this will be faciliated... If it does happen i expect a 10 transition year period...
A good question.
There are people who are born on this island who regard themselves as British. That is known, that is recocnised by the GFA, which gives a right in perpetuity to those born in Nothern Ireland to be British.
As I have said already, the problem with nationalism is when it is politicised. In the South, there are more people who have Polish as their native language that who have Irish as their native language, yet politics ignores that.
Pkuralism is the way forward, and the middle ground in Nothern Ireland who want this is growing. Unfotunately, this isn;t enough and the exlduionsry nationalists are spreading their poison everywhere
What was fair comment doesn't make me wrong this time.
My schema is not necessarily sequential. Freedom from British mendacity in Ireland is an ongoing project, sweetpea. It took us several centuries to gain control of four fifths of our country, we're working on the last bit.
In reality Britain will be a threat to Ireland until we neutralise it through alliances and developing the ability to defend ourselves. I would propose following the model of Switzerland, or maybe Taiwan, in the longer term.
How many decades is that :) About half way on your schema - so stage 6 must be about 2120!
You mightn't be far off :)
Generally the idea is that a united Ireland would be achieved by substantial agreement on both sides of the border and with solid cross community support.
Partitionist Phases of Grief:
Phase 1: 'never going to happen'.
Phase 2: 'we can't afford it'.
Phase 3: 👉️ 'Unionists must buy in'. 👈️
Phase 4: 'NI must be preserved'.
Phase 5: ‘We’ll reject unification in the south’.
Phase 6: Acceptance
Why are you surprised about this? As far as I know, all political parties in the Republic are in favour of a united Ireland.
It's just not a No1 priority for them like it is with Sinn Féin.
The Richmond fella above is just trying to get his face in the news, nothing new. They're all that, it's a politicians job to be noticed.
I notice our resident partitionists still have not commented
Thoughts and prayers with the partitionists now that FG are beginning to move on ending the partition of our country. Why not call for the formation of permanent partition party lads? can you imagine the collection of utter oddballs and malcontents it would attract? It would be hilarious.
Why are you giving out to me...
As i do not really fallow so i get most info from C4 news and Francie...
I do have the odd thought of my own...
I don't care how they get there. Just once they do at some point.
Unless the point is to sully the idea of a UI by associating their failure with it? 4D chess down on Mount St.
You flip from post to post asking opinions and saying you don't know much about politics in the North. And now it's clear to you that a Border Poll is imminent? Dear God.
I miss the days of debating the minutiae of whether the referenda have to be concurrent or can be in series.
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