Brexit.

[T Fearon]

Zzzzzzzz.I have never and will never be a supporter of the Union with the UK.I have advocated some form of independence for the North,on account of the absolute disregard of both Dublin and London (who jointly created "N Ireland" and jointly turned a blind eye to what was happening here) for the people here,their lack of understanding etc,and the division,hatred loss of life etc,the illogical competing allegiances to these two separate states  has caused in the North.

Even now,it is galling that the Freestate has now shown interest all of a sudden merely because their own economy is threatened,not out of any concern or care for nationalists here.

[bennydorano]

100% correct TF. ROI Govt not getting their knickers in a twist over the possible GFA Ramifications. They're loyal to the half crown like the everyone else.

[seafoid]

Zzzzzzzz.I have never and will never be a supporter of the Union with the UK.I have advocated some form of independence for the North,on account of the absolute disregard of both Dublin and London (who jointly created "N Ireland" and jointly turned a blind eye to what was happening here) for the people here,their lack of understanding etc,and the division,hatred loss of life etc,the illogical competing allegiances to these two separate states  has caused in the North.

Even now,it is galling that the Freestate has now shown interest all of a sudden merely because their own economy is threatened,not out of any concern or care for nationalists here.

The  Irish govt couldn't invade NI. It had to wait.
GAA people see the 6 counties as just as Irish as anywhere in Munster.

[Rossfan]

"Dublin" had no part in creating "Northern (sic) Ireland".
The Brits set that up in their Act of 1920 and then  Stormont  opted those 6 Cos. out of the new Irish Free State (1922-1937).

[seafoid]

"Dublin" had no part in creating "Northern (sic) Ireland".
The Brits set that up in their Act of 1920 and then  Stormont  opted those 6 Cos. out of the new Irish Free State (1922-1937).

Because the Unionists threatened war if they didn't get their little stateen.  The one where the Parliament is outsized and the rule of law collapsed for a few decades. And the industry died

[T Fearon]

Dublin freely assented to the

1) Creation of the Northern Ireland state in 1920

2) The right of the British Govt to maintain sovereignty over N Ireland in 1998.

[OgraAnDun]

Dublin freely assented to the

1) Creation of the Northern Ireland state in 1920

2) The right of the British Govt to maintain sovereignty over N Ireland in 1998.

Only until a majority in the 6C disagree with that sovereignty. And a majority of northern nationalists accepted that - or does that make them unionists?

[seafoid]

Dublin freely assented to the

1) Creation of the Northern Ireland state in 1920

2) The right of the British Govt to maintain sovereignty over N Ireland in 1998.

What choice did Collins etc have in 1920? They went for the long game.
1998 was in accordance with the will of the people . NI can't last anyway especially if the UK is trína chéile. 

HoW many mother nerd work in the Republic?

[Rossfan]

Dublin didn't exist in 1920.
The Irish people voted to accept the GFA.
Tone needs to brush up on th'oul history.

[seafoid]

Nobody in the DUP is even vaguely interested in what becomes of the UK. They are whiny, narcissistic, needy and useless.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/01/donald-trump-twitter-attack-will-only-increase-uks-post-brexit-angst


As UK diplomats picked over the rubble of the special relationship caused by Donald Trump's twitter attack on both Theresa May and the UK's multicultural society, seasoned foreign policy hands pointed out that there have been serious high level breakdowns in Anglo-US relations in the past, but it is rare for a disagreement to be so public or for a US president to be so insulting to a prime minister or the UK's sense of its own identity.

The row – at one level banal – may also inject an urgency into a growing debate about UK's foreign policy alliances in the wake of Brexit, diplomats said.

[T Fearon]

You don't sign away your right to sovereignty for a defined period.The British and Irish Govts assumed and hoped the GFA was a final settlement and the challenges of everyday Govt would exercise local politicians to the extent that they wouldn't even think of the constitutional arrangements

Even this afternoon,in the light of tension with the British Govt and on the receiving end of insults from the DUP, I heard a Fianna Fáil Minister on the local BBC radio news up here re-assure his London and DUP heroes that Dublin was not pushing a nationalist agenda.Heaven forbid anyone in Dublin Political circles even thinking about a United Ireland

[seafoid]

You don't sign away your right to sovereignty for a defined period.The British and Irish Govts assumed and hoped the GFA was a final settlement and the challenges of everyday Govt would exercise local politicians to the extent that they wouldn't even think of the constitutional arrangements

Even this afternoon,in the light of tension with the British Govt and on the receiving end of insults from the DUP, I heard a Fianna Fáil Minister on the local BBC radio news up here re-assure his London and DUP heroes that Dublin was not pushing a nationalist agenda.Heaven forbid anyone in Dublin Political circles even thinking about a United Ireland

of course it is nationalist. Of course it will be denied. It is not the fault of the south that the NI economy is a wee basket casem

[Rossfan]

Fianna Fáil Minister?
Dublin Govt in 1920?

Tony you need to brush up on things.

[Rossfan]

Tusk saying it's basically Ireland's call on whether it moves to Phase 2.

[Dubh driocht]

This has been a great week for Ireland and, indeed, the EU.
Many thanks to most of the posters on here for their informed comments.
The other bright point in my week has been the arrival of a family member's new passport.
For those who haven't got one yet ( they have been in circulation since late 2013), page 5- opposite the photograph page and therefore the one you'll be opening when you pass through airports- is particularly good. There's a great map of the island with our wonderful rivers, mountains and loughs featured. Not an artificially created line in sight.
A quote on this page , and repeated on subsequent pages;
"It is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland ,which includes the islands and seas, to be part of the Irish Nation"
Page 15 is dedicated to Gaelic Games- and as far as I'm concerned that's a picture of Ross Carr on the ball- and page 28 has a verse from the Ulster weaver Poet, James Orr. On the next page - "Furthermore the Irish nation cherishes its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share it's cultural identity and heritage". Seamus Heaney would approve.