A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[Ball Hopper]

Thought this was the proper thread to ask the question, but if there's a border poll and it turned out the union was secure, hasn't there to be one every seven years regardless?

No common mistake it only means that another one cant be called within 7 yrs however as noted earlier pretty sure nationalists would be pushing for one every 7 yrs after all you only need to get lucky once.

Is there any possibility of the choice being made on a county-by-county basis?  Might have to rule out any enclave-type scenario I presume, but what counties currently would have strong majorities one way or the other?

[Eamonnca1]

Is there any possibility of the choice being made on a county-by-county basis?  Might have to rule out any enclave-type scenario I presume, but what counties currently would have strong majorities one way or the other?

No.

The Good Friday Agreement says it in black and white. It's all or nothing when it comes to a border poll. No more carving up of little enclaves to appease people who can't accept a democratic result.

In any case the "counties" haven't existed as local government entities since the 1970s.

[ashman]

The 7 year border poll will make NI utterly toxic for private investment .  Who would invest there with such uncertainty ??

[dec]

Unless the first border poll is quite close, it will be a lot longer than 7 years before the next one.

[T Fearon]

The GFA agreement compels both governments to consider the outcome of a border poll,and do what they agree is best.Thats a far cry from actually legislating for re unification in the event of a majority voting for this outcome.

By the way who is the Blueshirt Charles Flanagan representing at the Stormont talks tomorrow? Surely not Northern nationalists?

[Rossfan]

When was the "binding obligation to introduce and support legislation"
deleted??

[dec]

The GFA agreement compels both governments to consider the outcome of a border poll,and do what they agree is best.Thats a far cry from actually legislating for re unification in the event of a majority voting for this outcome.

By the way who is the Blueshirt Charles Flanagan representing at the Stormont talks tomorrow? Surely not Northern nationalists?

"But if the wish expressed by a majority in such a poll is that Northern
Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a
united Ireland, the Secretary of State shall lay before Parliament such
proposals to give effect to that wish as may be agreed between Her
Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the Government of
Ireland."

[foxcommander]

The Good Friday Agreement says it in black and white. It's all or nothing when it comes to a border poll. No more carving up of little enclaves to appease people who can't accept a democratic result.

PMSL - Does this sound familiar Eamon ?

[Eamonnca1]

The Good Friday Agreement says it in black and white. It's all or nothing when it comes to a border poll. No more carving up of little enclaves to appease people who can't accept a democratic result.

PMSL - Does this sound familiar Eamon ?

Yeah. Reminds me of the Repukelicans who spent eight years whinging about having a black president.

[armaghniac]

The Good Friday Agreement says it in black and white. It's all or nothing when it comes to a border poll. No more carving up of little enclaves to appease people who can't accept a democratic result.

PMSL - Does this sound familiar Eamon ?

Perhaps it should be decided by an electoral college. Each local authority could vote and decide how to designate its delegates?

[Main Street]

When was the "binding obligation to introduce and support legislation"
deleted??

Nothing has been deleted, all those binding obligation are there.
Dec quoted the annex correctly, it's an add-on to the GFA , it does not change anything in the GFA.
Afaiu, the annex  attempts to add clarity  on how a majority vote to leave the UK would be put into effect in the British parliament.
The proposals put to parliament may be agreed upon by British and irish gov, that means it's not necessary that all parts of the proposals have to be agreed upon by both governments.
Regardless, the proposals will be put into effect by parliament

[balladmaker]

The 7 year border poll will make NI utterly toxic for private investment .  Who would invest there with such uncertainty ??

NI isn't exactly a mecca for investors at the minute.  An overbloated civil service keeps the unemployment figures down, and massive handouts from the London governement and EU help to keep the lights on.  As for major industry, you'll go along way in NI before you find an Intel Fab, IBM plant, HP, Twitter, Facebook, Google offices etc. etc. etc. 

[Eamonnca1]

To be fair, you won't see a whole lot of fabs in Silicon Valley nowadays either. That stuff's all in Taiwan.

[ashman]

The 7 year border poll will make NI utterly toxic for private investment .  Who would invest there with such uncertainty ??

NI isn't exactly a mecca for investors at the minute.  An overbloated civil service keeps the unemployment figures down, and massive handouts from the London governement and EU help to keep the lights on.  As for major industry, you'll go along way in NI before you find an Intel Fab, IBM plant, HP, Twitter, Facebook, Google offices etc. etc. etc.

Exactly .  The place is no go for investment .  Oddly enough the largest nationalist party is pragmatic in the north and  has Marxist utterings in the South .

[Stall the Bailer]

What about the likes of Citi bank, Moy Park, Allstate, Almac, Randox Norbrook, First Derivatives etc. A good few of them locally owned. Not as good as the south, but with the same potential all being equal.