A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[ned]

A United Ireland hinges on when and why "Sid" stopped being a PIRA supporter 

If Sinn Fein really want a poll on a united Ireland why did Michelle O"Neill refuse to meet Boris Johnson recently?

I can understand why Boris refused to meet Mary Lou as she's not in government in the republic, but what was Michelle's excuse?

Because she wanted a meeting of substance, not just a walk on part in a Boris photoshoot.

Is that the official reason Boris wanted to meet Michelle and Arlene. How exactly do SF expect to convince Boris then to call a border poll? 

By not meeting Boris all SF did was give Arlene/DUP a chance to tell him whatever they want without question and made their chances of a border poll weaker.

Not sure that's how it works! That was all about appearances.

[Applesisapples]

A United Ireland hinges on when and why "Sid" stopped being a PIRA supporter 

If Sinn Fein really want a poll on a united Ireland why did Michelle O"Neill refuse to meet Boris Johnson recently?

I can understand why Boris refused to meet Mary Lou as she's not in government in the republic, but what was Michelle's excuse?

Because she wanted a meeting of substance, not just a walk on part in a Boris photoshoot.

Is that the official reason Boris wanted to meet Michelle and Arlene. How exactly do SF expect to convince Boris then to call a border poll? 

By not meeting Boris all SF did was give Arlene/DUP a chance to tell him whatever they want without question and made their chances of a border poll weaker.

This is bullshit. Boris visit was more to do with the impending Scottish election and possible leave referendum. SF meeting Boris would not have achieved anything other than giving him a photo opp. With FF/FG lobbying against a UI referendum don't expect one anytime soon.

[Rossfan]

There won't be one till the Brit Secretary of state is if an opinion that a majority might want to vote for a UI.

SF, FG, FF, SDLP, or anyone else have no say in it.

[An Watcher]

Even if the dogs on the street know they'll vote for a UI, the Brit Secretary of State still won't grant one

[Angelo]

Colum told us he would get Brexit stopped.


https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sdlp-calls-for-border-poll-on-united-ireland-after-brexit-negotiations-1.3101566


He also told us he would push for a Border Poll.


Colum is a clown.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/snap-border-poll-bad-for-nationalists-claims-sdlps-eastwood-40195783.html

[dublin7]

A United Ireland hinges on when and why "Sid" stopped being a PIRA supporter 

If Sinn Fein really want a poll on a united Ireland why did Michelle O"Neill refuse to meet Boris Johnson recently?

I can understand why Boris refused to meet Mary Lou as she's not in government in the republic, but what was Michelle's excuse?

Because she wanted a meeting of substance, not just a walk on part in a Boris photoshoot.

Is that the official reason Boris wanted to meet Michelle and Arlene. How exactly do SF expect to convince Boris then to call a border poll? 

By not meeting Boris all SF did was give Arlene/DUP a chance to tell him whatever they want without question and made their chances of a border poll weaker.

This is bullshit. Boris visit was more to do with the impending Scottish election and possible leave referendum. SF meeting Boris would not have achieved anything other than giving him a photo opp. With FF/FG lobbying against a UI referendum don't expect one anytime soon.

First FF/FG weren't doing enough/anything to call for a border poll. Now they're apparently actively lobbying against it. Couldn't make it up

[Orior]

I wouldn't have much time for Eilis O'Hanlon as a writer

But maybe she was correct in some of what she said

Certainly the Shinnerbots on this forum seem very intent on proving her right

Syd you ballix, you got an honourable mention...

https://twitter.com/eilisohanion/status/1378813661813309442?s=21

Bringing our good name down 😕

[Saffrongael]

Colum told us he would get Brexit stopped.


https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sdlp-calls-for-border-poll-on-united-ireland-after-brexit-negotiations-1.3101566


He also told us he would push for a Border Poll.


Colum is a clown.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/snap-border-poll-bad-for-nationalists-claims-sdlps-eastwood-40195783.html

Almost as good as this prediction

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/well-have-a-united-ireland-by-2016-says-mcguinness-25922555.html

[sid waddell]

I wouldn't have much time for Eilis O'Hanlon as a writer

But maybe she was correct in some of what she said

Certainly the Shinnerbots on this forum seem very intent on proving her right

Syd you ballix, you got an honourable mention...

https://twitter.com/eilisohanion/status/1378813661813309442?s=21

Bringing our good name down 😕

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP9cVgDiQYM

[Angelo]

Colum told us he would get Brexit stopped.


https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/sdlp-calls-for-border-poll-on-united-ireland-after-brexit-negotiations-1.3101566


He also told us he would push for a Border Poll.


Colum is a clown.

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/snap-border-poll-bad-for-nationalists-claims-sdlps-eastwood-40195783.html

Almost as good as this prediction

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/well-have-a-united-ireland-by-2016-says-mcguinness-25922555.html

Colum's was an election promise. You must be a stoop if that triggered you.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/which-has-a-higher-standard-of-living-northern-ireland-or-the-republic-1.4540629?mode=amp


The most commonly used metric and the one the OECD uses to gauge living standards is household disposal income controlled for prices. Using this measure, the study finds that based on 2017 data, total disposable income was $4,600 (€3,840) higher in the Republic compared to Northern Ireland, equating to a 12 per cent advantage after accounting for prices.

Even though this metric favours the Republic, there is no agreed measure of living standards in the economic literature. Alongside income, there are multiple factors that drive a society's relative prosperity – economic mobility, educational provision, employment opportunities, health services, poverty rates.

The Bergin-McGuinness study found that poverty rates were considerably higher in Northern Ireland. Based on a poverty line of below 60 per cent of average household income, 15.9 per cent of individuals in the Republic were found to be at risk of relative poverty compared to 23.8 per cent in Northern Ireland.

Life expectancy

Perhaps one of the most striking differences was in the area of life expectancy. From 2005 onwards, life expectancy in the Republic has exceeded that in the North to the extent that a child born in 2018 is expected to live 1.4 years longer than its Northern counterpart. Even a person aged 65 in the Republic can expect to live a half a year longer than 65-year-olds in the North.

[johnnycool]

A United Ireland hinges on when and why "Sid" stopped being a PIRA supporter 

If Sinn Fein really want a poll on a united Ireland why did Michelle O"Neill refuse to meet Boris Johnson recently?

I can understand why Boris refused to meet Mary Lou as she's not in government in the republic, but what was Michelle's excuse?

Because she wanted a meeting of substance, not just a walk on part in a Boris photoshoot.

Is that the official reason Boris wanted to meet Michelle and Arlene. How exactly do SF expect to convince Boris then to call a border poll? 

By not meeting Boris all SF did was give Arlene/DUP a chance to tell him whatever they want without question and made their chances of a border poll weaker.

There was no meeting on offer. It was a photo op for Boris at a vaccination centre. They wouldn't have had any real opportunity to talk.
Michelle was entirely right.

[Rossfan]

43/49 "up there"
51/27 "down here"

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/north-would-vote-against-united-ireland-but-republic-overwhelmingly-in-favour-poll-40338256.html

[johnnycool]

43/49 "up there"
51/27 "down here"

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/north-would-vote-against-united-ireland-but-republic-overwhelmingly-in-favour-poll-40338256.html

North would vote against a UI???

Of those surveyed, 49 per cent said they would vote to stay in the UK while 43pc would support a united Ireland. The remainder were undecided.

I'd say that's not entirely sure from the actual figures quoted.

[pbat]

As Chris Hazard stated earlier 43% is a great base to start from, that's with no planning or laid out proposals as to what unification will look like. He also made the point that 1 year out from the Scottish Independence vote the vote to leave was in the low 20% and by the time of the election had moved to 44.7%.

Also the Southern numbers would be skewed as the rioting was going on when the polling was carried out, would be very shocked if the real number would not be mid 70's.