Northern Ireland 2125?

There is a middle ground, that is expanding further and further into both nationalist and unionist communities, who refer to themselves as northern Irish and love Northern Ireland.    This of course is a fairly comfortable position also for almost all of those who refer to themselves as British, but an extremely uncomfortable position for those who are in extreme Republican positions.  

What percentage of these people choosing to call themselves 'Irish', are looking for continued partition? Who is representing them politically?

That all of us respect the Irish language in return for maintaining the monarchy.  Let Northern Ireland continue its deeprooted and respected contribution to NATO and the British forces - maybe in return Britain pays for NI pensions, win-win for everyone.  

And seriously, nobody I know is interested in swapping like you suggest.

You either respect the Irish language or you don't.

Nobody would care if Mary from Clare or Gavin from Down didn't like the Irish language. If a majority want something, as they do in the Dáil and The Executive in NI, so be it.

There will be no veto's for anyone, no special treatment, as it should be in a republic.

What I envisage happening is that when a plan emerges here, in it will be a menu of what a UI will look like, and commitments to hold a series of referendums once we are a UI.

The period in which these referendums are held will be the 'transition' period where the UK would presumably ensure that the referendums are legal and fair on behalf of Unionists.

Like everywhere in Europe Irish people and those who identify as British would have the same rights as everyone and be protected by the new Constitution and the ECHR etc.

The idea that the RAF is defending Ireland is a myth. The RAF acts in UK interests full stop.

I don't see it that way.

Of all the ships the Republic has only two are able to do their job, the rest in in for repair. Due to lack of funding nothing happens.

Take a look at Spain. They really look after their waters and what's going on. If you're sailing towards Spain, you will with utter certainty meet the Spanish coast guard. In Ireland, you can basically come and go as you please, you don't even have to have luck.

If the Russians are getting close to Irish airspace the RAF from Scotland will come. It's been "tested" by the Russians several times. Currently The ROI doesn't even have propper radar systems. The Pilatus planes are maybe a modern-day Spitfire with modern navigation. The ROI would at least need Swedish SAAB planes or Eurofighters-Typhoon at best. 8 to 10 planes the minimum.

The problem isn't so much unionism or loyalism, it's about leaving the protection of NATO and a world class military to join something clearly inferior and underfunded with an attitude "Who would ever attack us?". I think that's something which would be utterly unacceptable for somebody currently in NI.

The matter would be entirely different, if say, the Republc had an air force like Switzerland, and a coast guard like the Spanish.

If this is supposed to work, neutrality or not, the ROI would have to invest massively in military and defence and refrain from that idiotic attitude "who would attack us?".

I have no issue with properly funding our defence forces nor would most people here.

Again, the RAF 'request' access to our airspace to defend themselves not us.
The RAF or anyone else is not coming to defend us from an invasion without permission from us as a sovereign country.
The question of NATO membership and spending the amount of our budget that NATO requires is one for all the citizens of here or for the citizens of a UI.
If a majority want to join - so be it, as a democrat I have to accept that and whatever else majorities decided in a UI.
I'd expect anyone else calling themselves democrats to do the same.

The GFA does not provide for this scenario so it wont happen.

The question of how does he plan to get the GFA shelved or changed has been asked, but as yet, no answer.

I see NATO membership very much like EU membership. Why go it alone, why not tap into the skills and capabilities together with others? NATO membership also doesn't mean that Ireland would be dragged into every conflict. EU is economic and NATO is military. Interestingly there are also military agreements with EU membership which would put any form of neutrality into the debate as well.

True neutrality for Ireland wouldn't only mean having a strong air force and strong naval and coast guarding capabilites, but would also require a certain amount of own and home grown military and defence companies. Switzerland does have that without a doubt. Oerlikon or Pilatus and the likes. Austria has Steyr arms and the Steyr AUG is apparently also used in Ireland? Ireland has no such industry. I believe in the North there are a good few defence companies in Belfast.

What I am saying is that even in the event of contunied Irish neutrality, Ireland wouldn't only have to invest in military and defence, Ireland would have to offer something as well in terms of defence industry and if push came to shove be able to offer something in return to receiving.

With Bablock International, Qinetiq, Serco, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce the UK has something to offer to the military and defence community, something the likes of Donald Trump does accept and takes serious as he knows the US depends on that. At the moment NI is tapping into that as well.

Ireland, albeit small, would have to have something as well and build something up as well, - that's what I am saying.

You'd have to convince the voter in NI on that as well……

Also why unite something so desperately if opinions would stay split?

A good co-existence between NI and the ROI with a transparent border is also a good solution.

I am not per se against Irish unification, however I am aware of the cost and the attitude towards military and defence in the ROI.

Dublin would have to foot the bill for unification and Dublin will have to spend way more on milary and defence. Otherwise NI would be joining something inferior and that'll be a tough sell to the voter in NI.

Those are Lala land economics. Those are massive pensions. How many people in Northern Ireland are in the UK Public service (NHS, civil service)? there must be 50,000 (UK outsources much of its public service to NI to save money). How are we going to absorb them into the Irish civils service? The PSNI will quietly resume duties as Irish Police Service. London is not footing the bill for Northern Ireland. The only thing "Special" about Northern Ireland is its Northern Approaches. Is the nearest submarine base Scarpa Flow? There isnt a lot of meat on the bone so to speak for the Republic. There has been brain drain on Northern Ireland for well over 100 years. Constant declining industry and the conflict being the main culprits. Also with new Government any agreements you had with London will be gone like water charges and these massive investments with low returns.

If say the ROI hat a decent military with an attitude like Switzerland it's certainly worth considering neutrality. However with the current attitude in Dublin that's a clear no go, and not only for me.

So what have the electorate said about this? Far as I can see, they re-elected the government implementing the current policy.

Who is it a 'no-go' with?

What has that to do with with the question I asked?

Nobody in the north has a say on our neutrality. Neither have they a say in the north, as it happens, that is decided in Westminster regardless of feelings in the north. Same as what happened with the sea border.

Disagree.
I think both governments, the EU etc will want a UI to succeed. It's in nobodies interest that it fails.

Transition periods to alleviate the pressure points on a new arrangement are all good sense moves. And I think that's what will happen. Public Service dependency will be wound down, tax breaks to attract FDI and investment etc

I didnt say it wont succeed but it is going to come with a very heavy price tag for the UI tax payer. Oh it will happen but it will not be the Utopia that will be promised.

What big investments worked out in Northern Ireland that werent government backed? H&F? DMC? Business is not suited to Northern Ireland beyond call centers.