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

Neither side wants to ‘standalone’

This is apparent since partition. How much clearer that needs to be escapes me.
The DUP won’t allow closer economic union with the south, on which the best of both world’s future depends.

Therefore the benefits are minimal which is why the public confidence is waning.

Oh I totally agree, neither of the two most popular parties have NI at the heart of their interests, which is a rather bizarre thing to say for a democracy.

It is a change away from this adversarial approach, a bit like our own civil war politics which have been consigned to history, that needs to happen first. A UI is inevitable really, but talk of it happening in the foreseeable is premature imo.

SDLP's current thinking:

“We have little to no control over decisions made in Britain whether you are a nationalist or a unionist … in 2016 we voted to remain in the European Union, we were dragged out against our will by votes that took place on the other island.

“My party wants full membership, back in Europe for the people of this region with all the opportunities and benefits.

“I do not want to live in a country run by Nigel Farage, that’s not to do with the colour of my passport, I simply don’t want to live in a country governed by that charlatan, and people here of all backgrounds, including those who are not nationalists, they don’t want to live in a country run by Nigel Farage either.”

Mr O’Toole said for those living in Northern Ireland who want a new future back in the EU, the only way to make that choice is to “opt for a new Ireland back inside Europe”.

Irish unity is not inevitable but it is more possible now than at any stage before so the British Government should take its head out of the sand and accept that the status quo has failed

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/a-new-ireland-is-an-alternative-to-a-reform-led-uk-stormont-opposition/a/152022847.html

so this means that Brexit, it's supporters, Nigel Farrage & the Shinners all want the same thing.

Go figure hey!? Not surprising in some ways as they're all loons!!

Yeah but that's not really how it works Francie is it?

In any well run democracy, a party whose fundamental mission was previously to dismantle the Irish state, using terrorism, gangsterism &/or politics, and now apparently just wish to amalgamate the ROI at all costs with a state in the UK, that has 70% civil servants & a heavily subsidised & backwards economy, and a load of socio economic scar tissue right through it's society, should have a detailed, costed & well researched amalgamation plan & risk analysis as a bare minimum. .

Otherwise this pining & pestering for amalgamating the 2 states in Ireland is all just sentimental republican poppy cock, that's about as well founded as a unification plan written on the back of a blood stained hankie!!

p.s. the fact is it just isn't feasible , which I suspect even the Shinners accept privately anongst themselves at this stage tbh.

It is a well known phenomenon that consumer sentiment lags economic growth when things are getting better.

The survey may just be an example of that.

Whole heap of ignoring the 77 years before the GFA there, John. It isn't just a failed state, it was a failed premise from the get go. If you build a house on faulty foundations, you can't act surprised when it falls down.

Do Sinn Fein have a plan for unification?

yerra yeah. SF don't or won't publish a plan for a UI.

That's probably cos such a plan would show a UI to be totally unfeasible, & could also alienate their own 'mob' by acknowledging the multiple & massive compromises that would have to be made to amalgamate the two states, and SF consider that both of those are likely to be unpopular & not worth the political risk. In short, Sinn Fein are a populist party, so they won't outline a plan to implement their primary political objective & their only real raison d'etre.

That's truly pathetic!! Like pitifully pathetic tbh….

p.s. SF: 'we want a UI, we want the ROI to pay for it, we want to impoverish the Irish people for 2 generations to attain this, we don't want to publish a plan to do this cos it might be unfeasible & unpopula , we… …..'

People: 'Well how are ye going to do that?'

SF 'Well we just think it's up to the government of the day to do that yada, yada, yada…..

People: will you kindly just get lost!!!

It is even more pathetic that their online supporters hide behind SF's reticence on the issue. Posters can't answer questions on taxation, social welfare, health, education, higher education etc.

For example, student fees, currently £4,985 in the North (a Stormont decision which means SF agrees with it) and €2,500 in the South, but places are capped in the North, meaning students leave for the mainland in a brain drain every year, but SF and their supporters won't tell you what will happen in the event of a united Ireland.

One thing I never got is why FG tried so hard to court the PUL cohort in NI. It's pretty fruitless as if a Farage led GB government simply jettisoned NI without regard to the GFA democratic process then the PUL bloc are simply orphaned.

Being averse to non partition is a political dead end, and at best all we'd end up with our version of a bible belt, not unlike in the Netherlands.

I don't think FG will pick up the votes they think are theirs for the taking, as the religious conservatives are more likely to merge with the likes of Aontú. There were protestant mother and baby homes on the island too.