A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[armaghniac]

This report is not a complete picture, but it is a start, and a welcome increase on the usual standard of comment on such things.

[LCohen]

This report is not a complete picture, but it is a start, and a welcome increase on the usual standard of comment on such things.

You might welcome the report but its not a start or an increase in any standard.

Its laughably embarrassing. It will be out there for a while and we can see how the "peer review" process treats it. My guess it will be ignored as serious economists will not consider it worthy of comment never mind serious analysis

[armaghniac]

One wonders how long NI will be allowed spend much more than outer parts of England in the current political climate.

[armaghniac]

Was speaking with one of the negotiators of the GFA earlier, he stated that the DUP haven't a clue what they've let themselves in for. Apparently the two guarantors of the Agreement are the EU and the US, The Brits don't actually have sovereignty over the north, they are the de facto administrative authority and cannot exit the EU without the approval of the people of the north. Any changes to the agreement will more than likely require a referendum probably both sides of the border. Mike Nesbitt has copped on to this, Arlene not yet, publicly at least.

Harold, after the court case this week  there is no evidence that this is true. The people who negotiated the GFA may have believed that the two guarantors of the Agreement are the EU and the US, but they actually didn't write any of this into the agreement itself. A real shortfall of the GFA was that it did not look to the future, it did not actually lock the British into anything nor did it provide for any review mechanism. There were no cross border bodies of any use set up, nor was any citizen right to equality of treatment cross border established. all the time was taken up arguing about explosives and the like.

[muppet]

CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES

1. The participants endorse the commitment made by the British and Irish Governments that, in a new British-Irish Agreement replacing the Anglo-Irish Agreement, they will:
(i) recognise the legitimacy of whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland with regard to its status, whether they prefer to continue to support the Union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland;


All of the UK was entitled to vote on Brexit. Fine. But the GFA enshrines the right of the people of the 6 counties to determine, separately, their own relationship with both countries.

The last vote was a UK vote on Brexit. Now the 6 counties should have a new GFA agreement presented to them as the relationship with either the UK or the 26 (or both) will change. The key though is to insist on talks and not to go to court to force a ruling that you might not like. The EU has some useful leverage here and a Clinton in the White House might also help.

We should seek an agreement that offers an attractive way for the 6 counties to remain in the EU.

[OgraAnDun]

https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2016/Towards-a-United-Ireland.pdf

Something for those saying SF need to start talking more about it.

[OgraAnDun]

https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2016/Towards-a-United-Ireland.pdf

Something for those saying SF need to start talking more about it.

A move in the right direction - the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step and this is probably it.

Sheds a bit of light on the British subvention here too which can only be a good thing.

[seafoid]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/1129/835162-gaa-may-limit-future-use-of-irish-flag-and-anthem/

GAA open to change on future use of Irish flag and national anthem
Updated / Nov. 29, 2016 16:22


The national anthem is played ahead of all Championship games
The GAA president has said that the association would be open to change in relation to the use of Amhrán na bhFiann and the Irish flag in anticipation of potential new post-Brexit agreements in Ireland.
Aogán Ó Fearghail believes that the association will adapt as necessary to any future agreements on the island of Ireland, predicting that Brexit will inevitably affect the GAA.

"If the GAA is serious about contributing to this conversation, it might look at its own official guide where it talks about membership of the GAA being an expression of a people's preference for native ways as opposed to imported ones." - Paul Rouse
Speaking in the UAE on the GAA/GPA Football All Stars tour, Ó Fearghail said: "There might well be political re-alignments on the island of Ireland and if there are then, the GAA, just as it did when Nickey Brennan was president at the time and before him Sean McCague, they welcomed the Anglo-Irish agreement. Every successive president has done that. I've done that.
"You certainly cannot look at these issues in advance of an agreement, that's for sure.
"The flag and the anthem means a lot to the GAA and will continue to do so, but who knows in the future? In the future, if there are different agreements in place for the whole of Ireland, of course the GAA would be inclusive in that."
"Brexit is going to affect the GAA the same as it's going to affect everyone else and it does cause concerns. In the future if there are new agreements and new arrangements we'd be open-minded about things like flags and anthems but not in advance of agreements."
However, GAA historian Paul Rouse believes that the GAA president is talking very much in a hypothetical sense, stating that Ó Fearghail has taken several leaps into the future, regarding the issue.

[yellowcard]

https://www.sinnfein.ie/files/2016/Towards-a-United-Ireland.pdf

Something for those saying SF need to start talking more about it.

I think a united Ireland is inevitable at some point and it has only been accelerated by the events of 2016. This document is a positive step which shows that at least there is a framework for a coherent plan being worked upon.

[seafoid]

Would the people in the 6 counties give up their health service and put up with the waiting lists in the South?
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/400000-people-on-hospital-waiting-lists-in-northern-ireland-lives-being-lost-warns-mla-34996673.html

The NHS will no longer be affordable if Brexit goes ahead.

[seafoid]

Unity is Better for Irish Sport

Irish teams are stronger and better when they are all-Ireland teams. All-Ireland rugby teams have won Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, boxers have had international successes, Irish golfers are leading the way in that sport. As an all-Ireland organisation, the GAA has been unmatched by any other amateur sports organisation.
Support for an all-island soccer team is growing. It makes no sense to have two 'national' teams competing on the international stage and splitting the talent pool that exists. We are stronger, better and more successful together. Unity would generate more income for sports clubs and more opportunities for talented players.

Dead right

[Rossfan]

Nice to see the Shinners running with most of my ideas from this forum over the years
Any chance of an oul' "Community Worker" job lads?

[michaelg]

Unity is Better for Irish Sport

Irish teams are stronger and better when they are all-Ireland teams. All-Ireland rugby teams have won Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, boxers have had international successes, Irish golfers are leading the way in that sport. As an all-Ireland organisation, the GAA has been unmatched by any other amateur sports organisation.
Support for an all-island soccer team is growing. It makes no sense to have two 'national' teams competing on the international stage and splitting the talent pool that exists. We are stronger, better and more successful together. Unity would generate more income for sports clubs and more opportunities for talented players.

Dead right

Let it go man, just embrace the GAWA.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38164449

[Applesisapples]

Unity is Better for Irish Sport

Irish teams are stronger and better when they are all-Ireland teams. All-Ireland rugby teams have won Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, boxers have had international successes, Irish golfers are leading the way in that sport. As an all-Ireland organisation, the GAA has been unmatched by any other amateur sports organisation.
Support for an all-island soccer team is growing. It makes no sense to have two 'national' teams competing on the international stage and splitting the talent pool that exists. We are stronger, better and more successful together. Unity would generate more income for sports clubs and more opportunities for talented players.

Dead right

Let it go man, just embrace the GAWA.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38164449

Absolutely no interest in a team that represents an organisation as biased and sectarian as the IFA.

[seafoid]

Unity is Better for Irish Sport

Irish teams are stronger and better when they are all-Ireland teams. All-Ireland rugby teams have won Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, boxers have had international successes, Irish golfers are leading the way in that sport. As an all-Ireland organisation, the GAA has been unmatched by any other amateur sports organisation.
Support for an all-island soccer team is growing. It makes no sense to have two 'national' teams competing on the international stage and splitting the talent pool that exists. We are stronger, better and more successful together. Unity would generate more income for sports clubs and more opportunities for talented players.

Dead right

Let it go man, just embrace the GAWA.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38164449

2 finals in 60 years

tsk tsk