How many of us think that unification is no longer a priority and don't really want unification ?

UK is our nearest neighbour, you don't move politically away from them, we need to have excellent relations.

The Common Travel Area is going nowhere.

Update

Again, I’d like to defer it until it doesn't matter viscerally to more than a handful anymore and is merely a matter of money. That clearly is not yet the case in Northern Ireland where significant divisions remain between the communities. Just take a trip up there and see for yourselves.

The bit that annoys me is that the diehards who want a UI dance around the real reason they want a UI. They dance around it trying to find “sensible” but vague sounding reasons for it economically, practically etc. There is never much analysis of the likely actual consequences cumulatively on all sides. For all sides. Design of flags, anthems, what happens those of the Unionist persuasion?

For all the Republican talk of a border poll. I have never heard any discussion about what happens after that!? Which is very odd, given the time the diehard Republicans have had to dream about a NI.

To me the truth is the main reasons are emotive and symbolic. As with all things involving NI. They are not being honest with themselves nor others. Even the likes of “Kneecap” once commented “we could have a UI but keep the NHS…..”

Dream on lads…..dream on….

Plus the more sensible Republicans know that even if there is a border poll, they will effectively have to wait for a 60/40 for a UI or more. Anything in the 50’s would be too tight and a sign that tensions would more likely reignite and/or the border poll would/could fail. And what then?

Thats the worrying part. Those arguing for a U.I. have no plan. Not even for small simple things, like design of flags, anthems, what happens those of the Unionist persuasion? You said before those of a unionist persuasion will be paid to leave the island by the British. Can you not come up with a better plan. Will you be forcing out people from the 26 counties who you perceive to be "west Brits" too, in your glorious new socialist 32 county Ireland?

You can call it the "super majority" chat, others would call your position the "sectarian baby headcount" chat.

The only people who need to reduce the discussion to labels like that are those who are afraid of real debate on the issues.

We had divisions for decades over close-run referenda in Ireland, the UK have had similar problems with the Brexit referendum. The GFA itself put a caveat in that the UK SoS must believe it is likely a border poll will pass, not that it is a 50/50 chance, but that it is likely, that means something more than 50% in the polls, more than 50% voting nationalist, how much more is for the UK SoS to decide, but if he does something based on a narrow interpretation, he will be challenged in the courts and will "likely" lose.

Did someone actually post that those of a unionist persuasion should be offered money to leave the island? Really, to leave their homeland? I can't believe that someone would be so callous.

The problem is all NI unionist branded parties become political anachronisms once London offloads its colonial legacy.

The DUP managed to turn May's backstop from an insurance to actual policy under Johnson. Johnson did his tour in NI, expressed his deepest unshakable ardour for the sanctity of the union and then stuck the customs border in the Irish Sea.

I believe what will happen over time is security incidents will be used to allow London turn the screw more on moving the CTA to join the customs border in the Irish Sea.

As for the religious fundi's of NI they're already taken a liking to spouting damnation from PA systems on Henry street. Plus some of the Brazilian immigrants have their own Christian fundi culture to add to the mix.

What’s this this “Super majority” phrase you have invented? Is this more Republican lingo I have to learn?

So you are telling me that Republicans would willingly risk losing a close border poll? That would be a disaster. Plus imagine the tension caused by a tight count! To me there seems to a whole new subset of young people in NI who see themselves as Northern Irish and don’t seem too exercised about the Nationalist/Unionist stuff. What will that subset vote for? I get the impression a certain chunk of the new generation are not really bothered about border polls at all.

Yes, that was FrancieBrady, who supports S.F. ( or is it the othr way round, seriously?) and who has close to 80,000 posts arguing for a U.I. He says that in the event of a U.I. then unionists should be paid to leave the island. When pressed on who would pay, he said it would be the British of course. His justification for that was that if there were people like Arlene Foster who could afford to go to mainland Britain in the event of a U.I., then unionists from a poorer background should be financially helped to do so too.

That is one of the few glimpses he has shown us of what his vision for a U.I. would look like.

It was financial assistance to relocate to mainland Britain - that is what you proposed for unionists who felt they could not live in a U.I. You were asked who would pay for that : you said it would be the British of course.

Giving someone of a political persiasion you do not agree with "financial assistance to move from the island of Ireland" is the same, in anyones book, as being "paid to leave". Same effect. Same cost to the British taxpayer. I suppose requiring universities applicants to have Irish language, as happened here, is another "stick" - and just one of the sticks - to encourage people to leave: interesting you propose the carrot for whom the stick does not work.

I suppose it is just one of your ideas for a 32 county socialist Republic of Ireland. You seem very cagey on revealing any of your other ideas on how things would work out. Others have said that is cowardice, you are afraid to say. Tell us your vision for even simple things like the flag, anthem etc, and do you think your comrades in S.F. would agree with your vision?

If people have already been intimidated or find life uncomfortable and want to leave, they can pay about 20 or 30 quid and get an Easyjet flight or a ferryride across the water. Nothing new there. Nobody has ever not left because they could not afford a ticket on the ferry.

What you propose is appalling. But an interesting insight in to the mind of a SF supporter who has almost 80,000 posts on boards.ie advocating a U.I. but no plans as such, except to get the British to pay the unionists in the case of a U.I. to leave ( those who were not encourage to go beforehand).

It is a bit of a false equivalency though isn't it? There was no former threat of arms if Brexit happened. The NI mindset on both sides on the hardline are the problem. Let them simmer instead of boil is my attitude. But keep an eye on the temperature.