The Agreement - 25 years on

[marty34]

This is due to a selective school system that unionists refuse to reform,

Sinn Fein may have been the one to get rid of the transfer test but all the Catholic grammar schools were on board with creating their own replacement. Catholics seem just as keen to send their kids to selective grammar schools as Protestants.

Grammar schools will look after themselves.  Driven by parental choice.

[Eamonnca1]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

[Milltown Row2]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

City centre was locked down after 7 or 8pm you had to climb 5 meter gates/barriers just to get home

[imtommygunn]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Exactly. The reference point for the northern economy is the northern economy not the southern economy. The difference is night and day with inward investment, tourism etc etc.

[seafoid]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Compared to Wales, Scotland and the South , the North fell behind during the last 25 years. People go out in Scotland but with more money. Poverty levels in the North are worse than elsewhere.

[Sportacus]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Exactly. The reference point for the northern economy is the northern economy not the southern economy. The difference is night and day with inward investment, tourism etc etc.

It's night and day alright, but incomes here are by far the lowest in the UK, and Mary McAleese said this week that unemployment in Ardoyne was 70% when the GFA was signed and it's 70% today.  If that's anywhere near true then there's still a lot to put right, (and I suppose opens up a can of worms about who is getting off their backside and who isn't!).

[LC]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Exactly. The reference point for the northern economy is the northern economy not the southern economy. The difference is night and day with inward investment, tourism etc etc.

It's night and day alright, but incomes here are by far the lowest in the UK, and Mary McAleese said this week that unemployment in Ardoyne was 70% when the GFA was signed and it's 70% today.  If that's anywhere near true then there's still a lot to put right, (and I suppose opens up a can of worms about who is getting off their backside and who isn't!).

For a lot of these people this is a lifestyle choice.  If there were no jobs / opportunities in Belfast why is the M1 and M2 bunged every morning with commuters and work vans.

[Rossfan]

Typical country crowd "taking our jobs"

[Milltown Row2]

City centre full of southerners probably. Locals are just staying in and drinking home brew and eating spuds

[imtommygunn]

Places like ardoyne, short strand, Sandy Rowe etc probably haven't changed much at all tbh.

[Milltown Row2]

Places like ardoyne, short strand, Sandy Rowe etc probably haven't changed much at all tbh.

They've their own pubs in their gardens now. Holiday twice a year and play golf! Doing a hell of a lot better than what my dad had to contend with

[seafoid]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Exactly. The reference point for the northern economy is the northern economy not the southern economy. The difference is night and day with inward investment, tourism etc etc.

It's night and day alright, but incomes here are by far the lowest in the UK, and Mary McAleese said this week that unemployment in Ardoyne was 70% when the GFA was signed and it's 70% today.  If that's anywhere near true then there's still a lot to put right, (and I suppose opens up a can of worms about who is getting off their backside and who isn't!).

The problem is deeper than hard working people versus scroungers. There is something wrong at the level of the system.

[onefineday]

The Agreement didn't bring the prosperity that people expected.

How so?

The Southern economy now is 9 times bigger than the 6 county economy.

But how does the northern economy today compare to how it was in the Troubles? How about civic and social life? People go out for evening meals now, I don't remember much of that in the Troubles.

Exactly. The reference point for the northern economy is the northern economy not the southern economy. The difference is night and day with inward investment, tourism etc etc.

It's night and day alright, but incomes here are by far the lowest in the UK, and Mary McAleese said this week that unemployment in Ardoyne was 70% when the GFA was signed and it's 70% today.  If that's anywhere near true then there's still a lot to put right, (and I suppose opens up a can of worms about who is getting off their backside and who isn't!).

Newton Emerson wrote yesterday in the Irish times that NI unemployment is 2.4% in effect full employment. Similarly we constantly hear of the problems employers have trying to find workers. Something seems off about that 70% number somewhere!

[imtommygunn]

With zero hour contracts it's near impossible to truly tell unemployment stats.

The hospitality industry is absolutely crying out for staff here though. Restaurants bars etc can't get staff so there should be less unemployment than there is.

[LC]

With zero hour contracts it's near impossible to truly tell unemployment stats.

The hospitality industry is absolutely crying out for staff here though. Restaurants bars etc can't get staff so there should be less unemployment than there is.

Plenty of potential staff in Ardoyne if they are looking them....