A United Ireland. Opening up the discussion.

[Snapchap]

Just a reminder that this is the same Micheal Martin who once refused to confirm in an interview that he regards himself as a persuader for Irish Unity.

"The Republican Party"

[Rossfan]

Has he any timescale for his Shared Island  initiative? What is the aim of it? What is the budget for it? What do we get out of it?

If you have time on your hands...

https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/campaigns/shared-island/

[Rossfan]

This lad and Bryant must have Jim Allister writing their statements!!


An Irish border poll is "off the table", British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.

During his visit to Belfast, Mr Burnham said he is "here to listen" but added that the "rifts" arising from referendums "take a long time to heal", referring to Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum.

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the British Secretary of State can decide to hold a border poll, and also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

The people of the Republic of Ireland must also vote in favour to effect constitutional change.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has previously said that an Irish border poll is "not top of my list of priorities".

Speaking to reporters in Belfast on Thursday, the Prime Minister reiterated that he is "here to listen".


"I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table," he said.

He added: "I think we've got to focus on bringing people together as best we can, and I think we've lived through a decade where there's been a referendum on Brexit, we had Scottish independence just before it.

"What we find is the rifts that come from those situations take a long time to heal, and it sets you right back and you can't focus on what's right in front of us here and now, the cost-of-living pressures that are hurting people in Northern Ireland, the need to get that budget set so that public services can function as they should.

"These are the things right in front of us and sometimes politicians go to things that they want to see, as opposed to getting the solutions that the public need.

"I think a decade since the Brexit referendum, I think we've had too much division, too much arguing, too much, backward looking.

"We need to fix the things right in front of us in the here and now."

[Franko]

This lad and Bryant must have Jim Allister writing their statements!!


An Irish border poll is "off the table", British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said.

During his visit to Belfast, Mr Burnham said he is "here to listen" but added that the "rifts" arising from referendums "take a long time to heal", referring to Brexit and the Scottish independence referendum.

Under the terms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, the British Secretary of State can decide to hold a border poll, and also places a duty on the office holder to call one if it appears likely a majority would vote for Irish unification.

The people of the Republic of Ireland must also vote in favour to effect constitutional change.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant has previously said that an Irish border poll is "not top of my list of priorities".

Speaking to reporters in Belfast on Thursday, the Prime Minister reiterated that he is "here to listen".


"I will take a collaborative approach but some issues will be off the table, and that is one issue that will be off the table," he said.

He added: "I think we've got to focus on bringing people together as best we can, and I think we've lived through a decade where there's been a referendum on Brexit, we had Scottish independence just before it.

"What we find is the rifts that come from those situations take a long time to heal, and it sets you right back and you can't focus on what's right in front of us here and now, the cost-of-living pressures that are hurting people in Northern Ireland, the need to get that budget set so that public services can function as they should.

"These are the things right in front of us and sometimes politicians go to things that they want to see, as opposed to getting the solutions that the public need.

"I think a decade since the Brexit referendum, I think we've had too much division, too much arguing, too much, backward looking.

"We need to fix the things right in front of us in the here and now."

Didn't expect much else from a man who has shown himself to be little more than Starmer in sneakers.

He doesn't seem to grasp that a significant percentage of the people here think that a border poll is the best way to "fix the things right in front of us in the here and now."

[weareros]

No British PM will grant a border poll. The western world has gone uber nationalistic and everything is about sovereign territory. The words "off the table" are ominous, and that's a PM of Irish heritage (the worst type of Englishmen btw - look at people like Brendan O'Neill, horrible effers, they really become more British than the British themselves). Nationalists need to get out the vote and maybe need a 3rd party that's a bit more grown up to talk economy (not Aontu) because SF/SDLP are not doing it. If they can at least out perform the Unionists in the percentages game, could try the courts. And no more lending votes to Sorcha, i'm an MP, here's my latest selfie in front of a bonfire.

[Armagh18]

No British PM will grant a border poll. The western world has gone uber nationalistic and everything is about sovereign territory. The words "off the table" are ominous, and that's a PM of Irish heritage (the worst type of Englishmen btw - look at people like Brendan O'Neill, horrible effers, they really become more British than the British themselves). Nationalists need to get out the vote and maybe need a 3rd party that's a bit more grown up to talk economy (not Aontu) because SF/SDLP are not doing it. If they can at least out perform the Unionists in the percentages game, could try the courts. And no more lending votes to Sorcha, i'm an MP, here's my latest selfie in front of a bonfire.

A couple more nationalist majority elections and a change in the south to a Taoiseach with a set of balls they will be calling on the EU and US (if they get someone half normal in post Trump) to put pressure on the Brits. 

[Milltown Row2]

Nationalist vote would need to be 60 40 at this point before it gets over the line..

[marty34]

I think a lot of 'nationalists' have their big house and two fancy cars in the driveway. They're not interested in a vote now or in 5 years time. As a matter of fact, they couldn't care less and that's the reality. They're happy with their lot and wondering should they shop in M&S or Tesco, not worrying about which party is releasing a green paper on reunification.



They have a good life going on holidays, getting their kids educated etc. and have no interest in this debate. If you'd give give them 10 new parties to vote for, they still wouldn't even vote.



Life has moved on a lot from the tough struggles of the 70's and 80's - times have changed dramatically. I think the Brits had a term for this - normalisation is what they called it. It's happening moreso now I think.



There are a few people on here who I think wouldn't vote for a re-united Ireland. You can see by their narrative on certain subjects and topics.

[AustinPowers]

It's time  this constant  refusal of a referendum  and vague  requirements for one, is  tackled.

Next  election in the north (and south),  put another question on the ballot paper...

- Would you vote for a UI if a referendum was  held tomorrow?

Yes or no.


If yes is  50% +1, then  call a f**king referendum.

All this we're  not ready nonsense. They'll still be saying  that  in 50 years time as an excuse  for not calling one.

[Wildweasel74]

And if we get one,and we nowhere near it, what then?

[Milltown Row2]

I think a lot of 'nationalists' have their big house and two fancy cars in the driveway. They're not interested in a vote now or in 5 years time. As a matter of fact, they couldn't care less and that's the reality. They're happy with their lot and wondering should they shop in M&S or Tesco, not worrying about which party is releasing a green paper on reunification.



They have a good life going on holidays, getting their kids educated etc. and have no interest in this debate. If you'd give give them 10 new parties to vote for, they still wouldn't even vote.



Life has moved on a lot from the tough struggles of the 70's and 80's - times have changed dramatically. I think the Brits had a term for this - normalisation is what they called it. It's happening moreso now I think.



There are a few people on here who I think wouldn't vote for a re-united Ireland. You can see by their narrative on certain subjects and topics.

This is bollox as nothing would change for these people, they'll still have their 'good life' regardless of the status quo

The Scotland referendum showed that you really need to be 100 percent sure it'll pass, it's a numbers game, it'll come but I've said a million times, the current 'leaders' can't be the face of the movement to bring it about..

[Armagh18]

I think a lot of 'nationalists' have their big house and two fancy cars in the driveway. They're not interested in a vote now or in 5 years time. As a matter of fact, they couldn't care less and that's the reality. They're happy with their lot and wondering should they shop in M&S or Tesco, not worrying about which party is releasing a green paper on reunification.



They have a good life going on holidays, getting their kids educated etc. and have no interest in this debate. If you'd give give them 10 new parties to vote for, they still wouldn't even vote.



Life has moved on a lot from the tough struggles of the 70's and 80's - times have changed dramatically. I think the Brits had a term for this - normalisation is what they called it. It's happening moreso now I think.



There are a few people on here who I think wouldn't vote for a re-united Ireland. You can see by their narrative on certain subjects and topics.

An awful lot of people- especially younger people don't have that cushy life you're describing. A quick google of salaries in say the Newry area vs average house price or monthly rents will show it's a huge struggle. Massive change is needed (North and South)

Definitely a few twats on here who wouldn't vote for it.