A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[T Fearon]

Today the Blueshirt Flanagan is allegedly representing Northern Nationalism at Stormont.Do you trust him? In recent days Adams has referred to Paisleys remarks to Mc Guinness back.in 07 "We dont need Englishmen to rule us". Why do Sinn Fein think we need freestaters then?

[armaghniac]

Today the Blueshirt Flanagan is allegedly representing Northern Nationalism at Stormont.Do you trust him? In recent days Adams has referred to Paisleys remarks to Mc Guinness back.in 07 "We dont need Englishmen to rule us". Why do Sinn Fein think we need freestaters then?

Why don't you declare Poyntzpass independent then?

[Donagh]

Today the Blueshirt Flanagan is allegedly representing Northern Nationalism at Stormont.Do you trust him? In recent days Adams has referred to Paisleys remarks to Mc Guinness back.in 07 "We dont need Englishmen to rule us". Why do Sinn Fein think we need freestaters then?

Flanagan represents no one other than the southern government who have a legal duty to be there, though it's hard to tell considering he has to be dragged kicking and screaming over the border.   

[haranguerer]

The minute a UI looks as if it could become a reality there will be a price to pay
In that regard. The transition would have to be slow and subtle to minimise the backlash

Think I've said this here before, but potentially its northern nationalists who would lose most in a UI. Not difficult to foresee one route it would go - new flag, new anthem, and tons of investment into loyalist areas to ward off trouble and show them they belong. Nationalists left wondering what it was all for. In the short term at least.

[T Fearon]

Exactly.Orange parades everywhere as well.

[haranguerer]

There'd be a completely different context to those - stripped of the triumphalism not sure they'd be as fervently supported.

A UI is the best option socially, economically, and politically, I'm jut pointing out it may not take the form we expect. I think most who want a UI actually want an invasion 

[Rossfan]

As I've pointed out over the years you'll see 2 semi autonomous regions - current 6 and 26 Co areas with a Confederation of the 2 as the All Ireland entity.
There will be a Confederation flag and anthem.

[seafoid]

NI failed in 1969. It has been limping along since. Stormont used to have a Prime Minister but it never will again.

Things have changed a lot since Louis MacNeice's day. He was an ulster protestant
https://apoemforireland.rte.ie/shortlist/dublin/

This never was my town,
I was not born or bred
Nor schooled here and she will not
Have me alive or dead
But yet she holds my mind
With her seedy elegance,
With her gentle veils of rain
And all her ghosts that walk
And all that hide behind
Her Georgian facades –
The catcalls and the pain,
The glamour of her squalor,
The bravado of her talk.

[dec]

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

My understanding is that once held a border poll has to be held every 7 years.

No, the 7 years refers to the minimum gap between polls.

[north_antrim_hound]

As I've pointed out over the years you'll see 2 semi autonomous regions - current 6 and 26 Co areas with a Confederation of the 2 as the All Ireland entity.
There will be a Confederation flag and anthem.

Isn't the utopia I had in mind

[Windmill abu]

As I've pointed out over the years you'll see 2 semi autonomous regions - current 6 and 26 Co areas with a Confederation of the 2 as the All Ireland entity.
There will be a Confederation flag and anthem.

The vote won't be for a confederation. It will be for a United Ireland.

[Rossfan]

Is Switzerland a United Country?
Germany?
Canada?
There will be negotiations following a successful ( from our point of view) vote and an outcome. There will have to be arrangements for the "6Cos British", the rights enshrined in the GFA will have to be maintained.
It won't be the 6 Cos simply being incorporated into the 26.
It won't be some narrow minded Sinn Féin state either.

[Eamonnca1]

Exactly. I wouldn't have a problem with Stormont being retained in its present form as a regional assembly within a UI.

[north_antrim_hound]

Exactly. I wouldn't have a problem with Stormont being retained in its present form as a regional assembly within a UI.

Well if this arrangement placates all sides and gets British involvement out its a start

How is this new state gonna be funded

[Windmill abu]

Exactly. I wouldn't have a problem with Stormont being retained in its present form as a regional assembly within a UI.

This gives Sinn Fein a double win. A United Ireland & the ruling party in the six counties. The Unionists and Loyalists would have a better existince in a 32 county U.I. than under a S.F controlled enclave.