The DUP refusing to let Sinn Fein have First Minister means a December Assembly Election. Will the numbers change in a fresh Election?
What parties seats are vulnerable or who might make gains in any constituencies ??
Only matter of time before there is a hard border put up. Which is why we need to get ahead of the UK, isolate them from the European economy and let them deal with the fallout with their depleted and under resourced military.
Any country that returns dingys back to drown, leaves the EU, sends immigrants to Rwanda, threatens to leave the ECHR and rips up international agreements will have no issues tearing up the Common Travel Area with dear old Ireland.
PS There has never been a hard border on the island of Ireland
Are you quite sure about that?
Okay, so if the U.K. announces tomorrow morning that the NI Protocol is unworkable and they will never implement it, we’ll leave the EU - destroying much of our economy in the process - rather than accept the hard border which would be needed to enforce the EU’s customs union laws, will we?
PS There has never been a hard border on the island of Ireland because the UK initially decided it was unthinkable to have a border between two parts of the Empire and that has continued ever since. They have occasionally seriously considered it since but always held off. That was them saving money, not anything else.
There will never be a hard border in Ireland again.
The figure of “300 roads” was always nonsense. Countries with border controls put them on their major primary roads, not every single laneway they have.
The reality is there are 14 places where National Primary Roads cross into or out of NI. 6 of those are accounted for by two such roads that run along and crisscross the border.
So, if we had to put up a hard border, we’d probably have been looking as somewhere between 8 and 14 border crossings depending on whether and how those two national primary roads were rebuilt.
And that is important because it may still happen should the British government ever decide to abandon the NI protocol as “unworkable”.
Can't be great reading for the DUP/TUV this morning. Hopefully the British government and media are paying attention and realise that there are more than Unionists living in the north of Ireland. Perfectly expressed in this tweet
Question is why are the Dup, Bryson etc allowed to dominate the debate as if the protocol is the biggest issue amongst theNI population. It’s clear they represent a minority!
I don’t jump up and down when you refer to my country as a point on the compass so I don’t know why the concern when I miss a tick above a letter. I was trying to use the correct name rather than saying parliament (which I assume is what it means). I honestly didn’t know there was a tick - and even if I did I don’t have the first clue how to type it.
Actually the UK was the second biggest net contributor to the EEC/ EU. And you say the UK helping to bail us out here after our Celtic Tiger went bust was "A prime example of the UK doing something which was primarily in their own selfish interests. They did it solely to protect their own banks.". Actually some of their own banks, like Bank of Scotland Ireland.... BOSI incurred losses of £10.9 billion (€15.6bn) after the financial crash in 2008, which was the “worst loss rate for the group overall” and it withdrew from the Irish market. BOS covered BOSI's losses.
The UK profited from the loan they gave us and they wouldn't let us pay it back early. Not sure why you're trying to portray them lending money as some act of generosity.
As for the UK paying in to the EU, they did this because as a member you pay in to a fund. As a member of the EU, they also benefitted vastly. Something that is now becoming more and more evident in GB.
Anyway, as regards N.I., they have and continue to pump many billions of pounds in to it each and every year. They defended the place in WW2. Good job they were not relying on us to keep Hitler from snatching N.Irish jews, gypsies, handicapped etc. So how can you claim they are selfish?
They give disability benefit to one in four adults in West Belfast. What other government in the world gives disability benefit to 1 in 4 adults ffs?
I'm not sure what you think they should do in terms of paying to keep NI going. The place was pretty much an economic wasteland as a result of British policy. Thankfully this has changed over the last number of decades but, like every region in the UK, it still requires funding from central government.
As for your link to Hitler (FFS! 🙄), do you not think they did this to protect a backdoor attack into GB (as opposed to some idea of protecting the people of NI)?
mod: Anyhow, at this point, I feel that the thread is heading off topic so lets stay on topic. Any further posts deemed off topic will be deleted without notice.
Funny you would mention the UK 'loaning' us money. A prime example of the UK doing something which was primarily in their own selfish interests. They did it solely to protect their own banks. But I think everyone knows that.
The UK has also recieved huge amounts from the EU and was bailed out by the IMF just before they joined the EEC themselves. So not sure what the self deprecating point you are making is.
I know you were taught to hate the British as many were, but I would not say the Tories and British are that selfish. After all, they and the EU and IMF bailed us out here not much more than a decade ago, and each and every year they give N.Ireland many billions of pounds. If I was a N.I. unionist, going from UK government to be governed by Republicans would be like going from the frying pan in to the fire.
I'm struggling to think of an example in either the Dáil or the EU where a ruling party have shafted another quite so publicly and routinely.
For instance, assuring them that they will not do something and then almost immediately doing the very thing they had promised not to.
And even if that did happen in the Dáil and EU, I am struggling to find an example of that betrayed party going back for more and holding the person who had betrayed them up as their potential saviour. I.E. Sammy Wilson
By all means give us an example of something similar.
erm, you're being ridiculous now and I suspect that while you know it, you do need to save face for supporting a band of bigots who would rather see NI burn than have an assembley with a SF first minister.
Personally, I know that there is a strong likleihood that the next Dáil will be SF led. However, I wouldn't dream that any other party do what it can to block the choice of the people.
[FYI it's Dáil, not Dail (which is not a word)]
Let me fix that for you.
‘Because history shows us, Unionist or Nationalist, whether you identify as Irish or British, it matters not to the Dail and The EU when it comes to their own selfish interests.’
Not just me downcow..many many people told you.
Because history shows us, Unionist or Nationalist, whether you identify as Irish or British, it matters not to the Tory's and British when it comes to their own selfish interests.
I didn’t say otherwise. I don’t think any of us really know. I was checking out that no matter what may be agreed that you will tell us ‘told you do’. People can see through you
The media reflecting that public opinion in the UK is shifting? They've had enough of the negativity, duplicity and Never Never Never.
Even Bryson accepts that the current deal is being negotiated within the 'framework of the current Protocol'
Well there we go. Francie is riding two horses. He can’t lose. On a positive it’s good to hear he is happy if unionists get all they need. Would be great if the eu negotiators take the same view.
I take it you will also be happy and unsurprised if some wording in the protocol is changed and/or legal additions?
Firstly.
I didn't 'accept' anything as I never said what you claim.
And I have already said, I have no issue whatsoever with flexibility with the Protocol.
The Protocol remains as does the Sea Border which is what you were told would happen.
Nice bit of ducking the question again francie. But credit for accepting that the dup were pulled into line by the voters. Maybe the posters who were saying that we were following the dup will take it better from you.
I am still interested what you will say if the eu accept that
these were all supposed to be non negotiable. I have no evidence we will win these but I am hearing positive noises.
now don’t duck the questions
..
So what is it that you think there is no border for? I can’t think of anything that has taxes connected to it. Can you by some of our cheap drink from a wholesaler up north and sell it in the offie in Dublin? I think not
We'll see.
I would love to be proved wrong and if I am I won't see it in terms of "winners" and "losers"
If the unique opportunity of free trade with both Britain and the EU is thrown away then everyone will have lost.
We're talking about customs borders of course.
... but I think you knew that didn't you?
They also stated catergorically that the Protocol/WA was a great deal and the EU should accept it. How did that work out?
What planet are you on if you think there is no border on the island of Ireland. I think you haven’t read francies AIA or the gfa
You can get as angry as you like. You are as wrong about the dup refusing to sit with a sf FM as you are about me not living through the 70s ni. Let me assure you I have been formed by the sectarian cleansing of my local community by the PIRA. I absolutely know the rumble of my neighbours house being blown to bits by that group that some people like to sing about now
the dup have stated categorically that they will take up their seats once the protocol is sorted
Firstly I don't know why you've singled out the Brighton Bombing as an example of a threat to stability. Sure we could go back and forwards for weeks ...
"Them uns did that"
"Ah but the other side did this" etc. etc.
I'm not going to play that game.
What I do take issue with from your post is this ... "The threat of more violence was enough to get the customers border between Scotland and N.Ireland instead of where the border was"
The border wasn't anywhere. There was no border. We were in a much more stable society. Hardline Brexiteers (including the DUP) rejected the Brexit deal that would have meant there was no border required either on our island or in the Irish sea.
So now we've been left with a choice ...
It is the very definition of an absolute no-brainer
Why on earth would any politician ( especially one who fought for the hardest Brexit possible) who should represent the best interests of their constituents choose anything other than option 2?
Oh yeah ... there's a Taig waiting to take the office of 1st Minister.
We can all see what the DUP are doing. It's crystal clear and it has nothing to do with the protocol.
A function of the AIA was to push Unionists into a power-sharing devolved government. You don't need to push anyone if they are willing.
Don't take my word for it, here's John Hume:
The fundamental change that has taken place as a result of the Anglo-Irish Agreement is a change that is deeply and fully understood by every Unionist. What it means is that their exclusive hold on power has gone and is not coming back. The power of veto on British policy which they have always had, and which goes to the heart of our problem here, has gone and is not coming back. The loss is uncomfortable for their leaders, for while they held that privileged position they never had to be politicians or exercise the art of politics, which is the art of representing one’s own view while treating others with fairness.
*Bold letters mine
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