To hell with the DUP ( don't understand politics ) . The solution is simple restart stormont ASAP and let the DUP lose their voting rights . They'll be running back like a shot especially when there's a vote on a united Ireland .
I think the D.U.P. are scared of the fact that the type of N.I., they used to live in, is slipping away. Apathy from an indifferent British government, who, because of Brexit, will have to borrow more and more money each year, as their tax take diminishes, putting the viability of keeping N.I. in the union, under the spotlight.
And the ROI will have to pick up some of the slack from that diminish tax take, the Republic is investing heavily in the north now and the unionist hate it..
@@kevonslims7269 no. We’ll take anyone’s money. This is the true Unionist revenge when the Irish taxpayer has to pick up the tab for Northern Ireland. Hilarious. The smart ones ( Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the SDLP have sussed that but the rest of them have not.
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
This discussion spectacularly misses the elephant in the room - probably deliberately. The fact is that Unionist voters are now a minority of the electorate in NI and also demographically skew very elderly and lower income. Unionism no longer has the raw numbers or the military, cultural, economic, social and political clout to prevent Unification by themselves. It's the non-aligned bloc that currently hold the balance of power in any unification referendum - and even that will likely only last another 15 years or so, there is a large nationalist majority in younger demographics. But Unionism, and the British media, are in complete denial about this fact. The DUP accepting an SF First Minister would make this (presently ignored) fact a very real present reality in the minds of many unionists and be tantamount in unionist thinking to an admission that the game is over, thus is something the DUP can never actually do. Also, saying that a small and dwindling unionist minority will never consent therefore the rest of the island must continue to pander to the injustice of partition indefinitely is fundamentally Imperialist and profoundly anti-democratic.
I agree the DUP are being ahort sighted. By holding the assembly to ransom, they are saying "you won't ever have government under the current system" They risk pushing more and more people towards saying "Guess we need to make a big change then!"
Many nationalists are only straw nationalists. They know if they separate from the UK all the money and jobs will disappear and won’t be replaced by RoI or the great Satan (EU). While they will never vote for the Union there are many ( with sense) who will not vote to leave the Union and will abstain in any vote. Same as in Scotland. The economy will be the decider and RoI and the Sinners don’t have the answers to the economic questions being asked about their leprechaun themed nirvana.
Northern Ireland's constitutional status is defined within the Good Friday Agreement and it can leave the UK if thats what it appears that the majority wants in the North, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is legally obliged to call a border poll in those circumstances. And then if the Republic of Ireland agrees, unification happens and Northern Ireland is gone from the UK. A simple majority 50 percent plus one both North and South is all thats needed and the decision is for the island of Ireland ALONE to decide no outside impediment or interference. That's Britain and British people within Britain. Irish reunification is none of their concern. A United Ireland will be a sovereign independent country within the EU.
@@davealex6640 Yes the British Secretary of State is legally obliged to call a border poll when the circumstances are deemed there for one. Re the criteria. The Irish Government, Nationalist Parties in the North have asked the British Government to lay out the criteria but the British Government hasn't as of yet. Don't worry, when the time is nearer, enough pressure can be put on the British Government to lay out the criteria clearly. Unless you're one of those who hasn't seen how the British Government had to crawl back and implement the Protocol properly and negotiate the Windsor Framework. Ireland is in the bigger Union plus the US is very keen on the Good Friday Agreement being implemented properly. Resolutions in both the US Senate and House of Representatives restating US commitment to the Good Friday Agreement being supported on a bi partisan basis recently attest to that. Do you still think Britain is a big power and can just break international agreements because it's 'special' 😂
@@davealex6640 Re Sinn Féin meeting the monarchy etc. That's their job as First Minister in waiting and Speaker etc 🤔 Re the British subjects. Some unionists will remain British to begin with, no doubt as some did when the Republic of Ireland became independent. But they soon changed. Britain doesn't give a toss about Unionists from Northern Ireland and they would sacrifice some of the perks of being in United Ireland citizen if they want to remain British. Plus re polls that's mainly older Unionists re demographics and they'll die out.
@@davealex6640 Seriously the Ireland's airspace stuff? 😂 What's that got to do with a United Ireland. Britain helps defend Ireland's airspace at the moment because Ireland let's it and it's in both countries interests. Britain always had a strategic interest in Ireland, on that's partly why it invaded it and occupied it for centuries. It's always been perceived as a threat and a weakness on its western flank. Britain doesn't help protect Irish airspace because it's so kind or cares about Ireland or something 😂. It couldn't give a toss about Ireland. It does it purely for selfish reasons ie it's in its own interests to do it. And it suits Ireland too. Though it looks like Ireland will be a part of an EU general defence type arrangement in the future so the arrangement will probably come to an end then. Your points are all very strange. I've pointed out reunification happens re the Good Friday Agreement. And unification now is inevitable re demographics alone. Whats your problem with that. Demographics aren't fantasy they're reality.
@@davealex6640 A panel of international experts met recently and the international norm re circumstances like this is polls demographics and elections. You seriously think that Britain and the British Government can keep Northern Ireland trapped in the UK if it looks likely that the majority don't want that re polls elections and demographics 😂. Still deluded, thinking that Britain can flout international agreements. The British Government is legally obliged re the Good Friday Agreement to call a border poll and international pressure will ensure that it does. Remember the British Government crawling back to implement the Protocol properly when Britain thought it could do as it likes. 😁🤣. That was funny. Plus Britain can't wait to get rid of Northern Ireland anyway. In a recent poll the majority of British people would rather hold onto the Falkland islands than to Northern Ireland. Britain will be delighted to get Northern Ireland off its hands especially now since it's so stuffed by Brexit. And the Brexity types can't implement their pure sovereign Brexit because the Good Friday Agreement keeps stuffing them up. The British economy is stuffed re Brexit and has no room to improve. There's no money for Britain, let alone Northern Ireland.
@@davealex6640 There's people in the Republic of Ireland that want the Republic of Ireland to be in the UK. Who? 🤣.. The demographics are going one way and you can't fight demographics. The DUP 🤣. They're a disaster. All they can negotiate with the British Government is that the British Government restates Northern Ireland's constitutional status as per the Good Friday Agreement. Unionism is stuffed and dying. The staunch variety are the old and dying off. Re the loyalists who don't want a United Ireland. Too bad. That's democracy and equality and they wouldn't have the support of the British State this time and they couldn't get Northern Ireland back into the UK anyway. Plus they don't have much community support. They're criminals and drug dealers. Unification is inevitable, only a question of when. The only chance Northern Ireland has of remaining in the UK once the Nationalists are the majority is if unionists contribute towards making Northern Ireland a pleasant equal place for nationalists to live. But extreme unionists are incapable of that because they view equality as defeat. So they also contribute towards the inevitability of a United Ireland re their bigoted stance towards anything Irish. Plus the island is already reuniting economically.
I’ve said it before but can’t resist it again. Give all the Unionists who want to be regarded as British a dinghy and a google map to allow them to find their way to Bradford, Preston, Birmingham etc. etc. & house them in hotels until we can get the Rwanda scheme back on track😂
Britain and even the UK as a whole is disunited politically, socially, culturally and linguistically. The poor political choices and decisions of Brexit have made the lack of unity ever clearer for the entire world to see. It's not just disunited, it's also completely imbalanced. Politically, it has devolved governments, but most of the power lies in Tory Westminster which has the UK at political loggerheads. These devolved governments squabble and fight amongst each other which details the disunity. Brexit was divisive and it shows how disunited the UK is with the occupied region called "Northern Ireland" and the country of Scotland voting No to Brexit. The UK is literally split down the middle in the Brexit debacle which makes it politically disunited. Furthermore, the UK isn't a voluntary union because Scotland is actively being denied another independence referendum post Brexit - this, again, makes it a disunited partnership + an imbalanced and undemocratic one. Welsh and Scottish independence is growing while talks of Irish reunification are on everyone's lips - this, again, demonstrates a disunited and imbalanced union. Socially, culturally and linguistically it is also divided and disunited as the different parts have their own culture and language + Britain has become increasingly "British Asian". Brexit itself limits multiculturalism and encourages exclusive nationalism and nativism which in effect breeds racism and xenophobia (the very core of Brexit and Brexiteers). Great Britain was never united, but instead it's DISUNITED and IMBALANCED as well as UNDEMOCRATIC and UNJUST. And it's actively breaking up which is the ultimate win 😅
Good comment!!!! The (dis)United Kingdom is laid bare for all to see because Queen Elizabeth II did absolutely nothing to keep the peoples of the UK together. There's so much disharmony between the people and Charles and William have to work hard to kick everyone into shape in order to save the Union but it's a bit late for that because as you rightly point out, people can see the imbalances everywhere within the Union.
I agree with all the comment except the bit about independence growing in Scotland. Support for independence has hovered around 50% for the past 8 years in spite of brexit. I wish it was otherwise but we need to be honest.
If it wasnt for a third of True Scotsm and Northern Irish rejectimg federalism, alongside the majority of Great Welsh and English, Brexit wouldnt have happened. Fact. 😂
@@Purple_flower09true, ut some poster from Scotland, might even have been you, replied to me when I said something similar that once an active campaign will be started (in case of a referendum) those numbers would go up dramatically. What is your take on that?
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
So, if the DUP were happy with the referendum in 2016, where a simple majority was considered sufficient to justify Brexit, why would they not be happy with the same arrangement in a referendum on unifying Ireland?
Probably the same reason the Republicans in N Ireland wouldnt accept British Rule - but at least if Ireland was united and the Loyalist community was subject to Irish rule then with the communal and sectarian history of N Ireland, the body bags wouldnt be coming to the UK.
@@anniegrath1417 Sounds like you have first hand knowledge of threats - not a irish republican are you, they know all about making threats - even threatened to bring back the bombs if the British didnt accept a fake border down the Irish sea... So tell me about threats again??? Your comment sounds like a threat to me.
Hahah yea that bit always gets me when you have unionists openly admitting to being anti democracy if it doesn't go their own way yet never get push back on that
Geoff is completely ignoring the massive demographic shift taking place - the opinion polls will shift dramatically as maj unionists die and maj nationalists come of voting age in rapidly increasing proportions.
Yeah there seems to be heads in the sand about that but it will become apparent in the next few years in a big way. Unionists numbers in terms of votes will dwindle to such a level that changes will have to happen.
Some do - and the ones that do matter. They're still the largest Unionist Party in Northern Ireland and obviously still have a lot of support within that community. The reality is nothing can move forward without their support. Stormont is still not functioning and budgets are not being spent so to say that nobody cares about them anymore is simply not true. The problem the Unionists have right now is the British government is not willing to jeopardize delicate negotiations with the EU on their future relationship simply to pander to DUP demands - The truth is Northern Ireland does not rank high in the overall scheme of things and the DUP knows it. So the only course of action they can turn to now is obstructionism just make things as awkward as possible for everyone.
@@jonsimmons4150 The 3 parts of the United Kingdom that voted to stay part of the European Union were London, Scotland & Northern Ireland.! The recent local & national elections were dominated by SF.
I would love to see a united Ireland. The division of Ireland is similar to what Putin did in Ukraine where ethnic russians in the east were used as a ruse to split the country of Ukraine. The UK did the same for the protestants in the north even though the entire history of Ireland was of one single entity. Now that the protestants are in the minority the DUP have resorted to obstruction and siege mentality.
im not against a unification of ireland... but " even though the entire history of Ireland was of one single entity" is complete nonsense! the only time ireland was united in the past, was under british control. before that there have been several rival kingdoms, tribes etc. the normans, viking, celts, brits all tried to get their share of ireland. ireland was not only not a "single entity", but divided in different countries and by different languages, religions and cultures for around a thousand years, before the brits "colonised" ireland and "unified" it under british rule, language and culture.
Do Brits think we fought British rule for centuries for the laugh of it or something? When people fight, they fight for a good reason and when a nation fights it's because something was taken away from them! After the Norman/Anglo Invasion of Ireland in the 1100s, we then had Planters arrive as per The Plantations in 16th- and 17th-century which involved the confiscation of Irish-owned land by the English Crown and the colonisation of land with settlers from Britain. We fought back: 1. The two Desmond Rebellions took place in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 to *fight against the threat of the extension of the English government* over the province. 2. The successful Battle of Clontibret was *fought against the British* in County Monaghan in 1595. 3. The successful Battle of the Yellow Ford was *fought against the British* in County Armagh in 1598. 4. The Nine Years' War, sometimes called Tyrone's Rebellion took place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603. It was fought between an Irish alliance to *fight against English rule in Ireland.* 5. The Rebellion of 1641 took place when Irish Catholics were being threatened by expansion of the anti-Catholic English Parliament and Scottish Planters and they *rebelled against English and Protestant domination.* 6. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a major uprising *against British rule in Ireland.* (The Society of United Irishmen was led primarily by liberal Protestants). The Irish wanted an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and to roll back the Plantations of Ireland. 7. The Irish rebellion of 1803 was launched by Irish republicans *against British rule in Ireland* 8. The Young Irelander Rebellion was an Irish nationalist uprising led by the Young Ireland movement, part of the wider Revolutions of 1848. 9. The Fenian Rising of 1867 was a rebellion *against British rule in Ireland*, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood. 10. The Easter Rising of 1916 was piloted by Irish republicans *against British rule in Ireland* with the aim of establishing an independent Irish Republic. 11. The civil rights movement in the early 1960s challenged the inequality and discrimination against ethnic Irish Catholics that was perpetrated by the Ulster Protestant community. 12. Derry activists' marched on the 5 October 1968 in Derry, but were attacked by the RUC and loyalists. THAT IS A SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE HAVE FOUGHT AND RESISTED BOTH BRITISH RULE AND DISCRIMINATION BY THE UNIONIST COMMUNITY
Ireland will have an economic union in 5 years...any dinosaurs who don't want to be a part of that union will be just left behind...unionism is a Tory construct...Tories will be out of power next year...11 billion going to the North of Ireland will be reviewed in light of the NHS, water, rail and the other pressing issues in England...so ...political union or reunification ...40 years ...we in the South are doing OK...who in their right mind would want to be dealing with that bat shit crazy...Sammy Wilson or Paisleys young fella. So the Brits will think long and hard about what unionism and Ireland mean and will come to the opinion that ...claiming sovereignty over any part of Ireland was a bad thing ,never worked and in the future hasn't a hope of working...so our history lesson after 800 years will slowly come to an end and the island can then call itself sovereign but not United...only economically..and truth ..I'm good with that...I couldn't care a shit what religion you are,unionist ,nationalist ...but I do care that we are all Irish or Irish / English on the island.
This is the most honest, reasoned, realistic and open discussion I've ever witnessed on the subject of NI in an almost 50 year lifetime living on the island.
The most remarkable thing about this channel is not only do you not understand the United States, you appear to not understand Ireland or even Great Britain. That's a disconnect with reality, not culture.
I can't work out your comment when the guy who's being interviewed is Irish, a former rep of the European Commission and a former member of the office of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Remember the guy's only giving his opinion on the matter and he stated he's reliably been informed the DUP will lever herself into the Executive.
There certainly is an English problem. However and speaking as one with dual nationality outside of the UK I have yet to come across anywhere that has « no problem ». So from your Dublin vantage point can you tell this problematic half Brit Catholic pro-Irish remainer whether that was just a slogan or a serious statement (pal)?
@@audreymcgready4329 No there isn't, it's a Westminster problem, it's a neoliberal capitalist problem. If you want the English out then I want you out.
Any more than the other guy suggesting Westminster will introduce legislation that the Six Counties will only leave the UK in tightly defined circumstances.
With all due respect, President Biden and our Americans cousins are ensuring that you ''brits don't screw around'' with the GFA. Stormont is a largely empty grandiose building that hosts an 'assembly' with little powers. Sinn Féin, the largest party by far on this island, rule from Dublin. You can talk all you want till you go blu.. err.. red in the face but ultimately it is Dublin that determines the fate of it's four Irish provinces.
Sinn Féin is in opposition in the Dàil and can't get into power sharing in the North. Also Sinn Féin will not want to promote how good Ireland is under FF/FG as that would be shoot themselves in the next elections. If it wasn't for the Housing Crisis due to the lack of workers in the Construction sector and the increase in raw materical costs for the sector, Sinn Féin could only rant about RTE.
What new "certainty' legislation does the UK Gov propose to pass next month? The GFA is clear that the decision on the future of NI depends on popular vote in NI and in Ireland. If the UK Gov. passes legislation that is contrary to the intent and spirit of the GFA - which is international law - the amount of ensuing anger in the Irish population should not be underestimated.
@@Buckets1000 yes every thing you said is correct but the older DUP offspring don't in many cases feel the same way as their parents. i happened to meet one of these younger people working in the south and i did ask him not in a bad way how come he didn't work in England he said why would i go Overseas yes Overseas his words not mine when i can drive along a motorway and get what i want i said Good for you to which a grin came over his face. A Massive Change don't you think
In general Brendan Donnelly is a good objective commentator on Brexit and UK issues; however, Geoff Martin doesn't seem to appreciate trends... the change in demographics, religion, politics, North-South arrangements, Anglo-Irish arrangements, education, and most importantly, the economic success south of the border over the past thirty years. He doesn't refer to the possible terminal decline in British/English GDP and society. He doesn't mention the fact that the EU could replace the UK subsidy to NI from the small change in its budget. He isn't looking at the fact that the vast vast majority of English (not necessarily Welsh or Scottish) people want rid of NI. Assuming Labour return to government in the next year or two, the DUP's twisted relationship with the Tories will matter less and less. I'm not suggesting that NI will reunify with the rest of the island. But I state clearly that the factors that will ultimately decide that question were not even considered by Mr. Martin.
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
@@svenvandevelde1 Yeah, in modern Europe, Christianity isn't that big of a thing. It's pretty clear religion does a better job of dividing people than bringing them together.
Mr Donnelly (great IRISH surname) Excuse you, but it is REUNIFICATION of Ireland. Ireland was united in many ways before the Norman/Anglo invasion of the 1100s and united linguistically, lawfully, culturally and socially right up to the 1700s before British rule took hold. Ireland was actually more unified in the 17th century than Britain is in 2023. 1. Ireland was united before the coming of the Brits/Normans in 1169 as we had one law for the whole island i.e. *Brehon Law* This particular law was in place for 1000 years and was first set down on parchment in the 7th century. This law was operational in Ireland even until the completion of the English conquest of Ireland in the early 17th century. Brehon Law is seen today as very advanced for that time. Brehon Law is hugely important and not to be overlooked as insignificant. *Brehon Law was very advanced for that era and was even in use right up until the 17th century before the Brits took hold* 2. The whole island was *united linguistically as we all spoke Old Irish* The Irish language is around since the Bronze Age and is about 2,500 years old. We all shared the Irish language so were linguistically entwined. 3. *We were united both culturally and socially, too all the while operating under one law and conversing in Irish* One's culture is based firmly around many different parts of everyday life and pre-Norman invasion, Gaelic Irish style of dress, music, dance, sport, social gathering, architecture, and art was nationwide. 4. We had unity albeit political unity, but where and when, even today, has politics ever been united!? Are the folks in Westminster united? Are the folks in the Dáil Éireann united? I think not. Conclusion: The truth is the British invasion destroyed our laws and language therefore creating division - the invasion tried to divide the people and successfully partitioned the island. Ireland was united in many ways before the British arrived and will be reunified when Britain leaves.
The Federal Trust exists to promote debate. Geoff Martin’s views are worth hearing by anyone interested in the future of Northern Ireland. That is why the Federal Trust is happy to feature him as a contributor.
Ireland was united in many ways before the Norman/Anglo invasion of the 1100s and united linguistically, lawfully, culturally and socially right up to the 1700s before British rule took hold. Ireland was actually more unified in the 17th century than Britain is in 2023. 1. Ireland was united before the coming of the Brits/Normans in 1169 as we had one law for the whole island i.e. *Brehon Law* This particular law was in place for 1000 years and was first set down on parchment in the 7th century. This law was operational in Ireland even until the completion of the English conquest of Ireland in the early 17th century. Brehon Law is seen today as very advanced for that time. Brehon Law is hugely important and not to be overlooked as insignificant. *Brehon Law was very advanced for that era and was even in use right up until the 17th century before the Brits took hold* 2. The whole island was *united linguistically as we all spoke Old Irish* The Irish language is around since the Bronze Age and is about 2,500 years old. We all shared the Irish language so were linguistically entwined. 3. *We were united both culturally and socially, too all the while operating under one law and conversing in Irish* One's culture is based firmly around many different parts of everyday life and pre-Norman invasion, Gaelic Irish style of dress, music, dance, sport, social gathering, architecture, and art was nationwide. 4. We had unity albeit political unity, but where and when, even today, has politics ever been united!? Are the folks in Westminster united? Are the folks in the Dáil Éireann united? I think not. Conclusion: The truth is the British invasion destroyed our laws and language therefore creating division - the invasion tried to divide the people and successfully partitioned the island. Ireland was united in many ways before the British arrived and will be reunified when Britain leaves.
@@joemdee *Legend* has it that it was Niall of the Nine Hostages who, on a raid in Wales, captured a young slave and brought him to Ireland. That slave would later escape and go to become Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick. Try harder, little Englander.
@@IrishLadASMR I don’t think he captured a young slave. Patrick didn’t become a slave until he fell into the hands of the Irish. Fuck your are so unintelligent. You are no challenge.
Geoff’s point was that if the referendum did not show a majority for Irish unification it would not change the status quo. In that sense it would only be “advisory.”He does not doubt that if there were a majority for Irish unification it would be binding. He does not however think there will be a majority in NI for Irish unification in the near future.
@@federaltrust A vote not changing the status quo puts binding obligations on the governments just as a vote to change the status quo does. The use of the word advisory suggests the government is not bound by the result. In recent years we have heard several reports of the British government and unionists trying to doctor the GFA in unionists' favour, with talk of weighted majorities etc. Bertie Ahern claimed that in April the British government wanted to make changes to it to appease unionists. I wouldn't want to take on the herculean task of trying to appease unionists. It's no surprise that Joe Biden came over 'to make sure the Brits don't screw around'. Understandably, words like advisory make some of us suspicious.
@@frankoneill5675, any change to the 50%+1 requirement in the GFA will see widespread CNR disengagement from the democratic process, and label it as a stacked deck. And rightly so... To a large extent this has happened already re. Brexit, and we don't really give a fiddlers if Stormont never turns a light on again.
@@stevendenny7260 They will never stop trying to change the simple majority; if it wasn't for the Americans, they would have done long ago. That's why I'm suspicious of this guy's use of the word advisory, like a process of getting people used to such ideas. Tony Connelly reported last year that there were rumours around that Johnson was thinking of introducing cross community consent on reunification. Whether that was just trying to inflame things or serious is impossible to know. They are not to be trusted.
..❤️... A New Way FORWOULD FOR IRELAND....❤️.. This is a good time for Ireland to reunite as one country England is clearly going into recession which will affect the people living in the north of Ireland also a lot of people voted in the referendum to remain in Europe but England has taken the North of ireland out of Europe...... So by the north of Ireland reuniting as one country with the South you would automatically be back as European citizens again and the economy in the south of Ireland is in a very good shape so you would not be in a recession any more,, your lives in the North will not change unless you want them to and you would have a say in the whole of the Irish government what laws you want and the way forward for Ireland and that would include the north of Ireland automatically I hope the people in the north of Ireland will seriously think about so many benefits coming together as one country ireland.... Please let me reassure you that you have nothing to fear from your brothers and sisters in the South,,, and your brothers and sisters in the north has nothing to fear from you..... Independence must come in Ireland incomplete peace right across ireland for everyone nobody should fear anything from anybody. It's a big step worth taking and I hope in the north of Ireland you will take the step in the right direction.. And put the past behind you....., and that you both in the South and the north enjoy the whole of Ireland together just like the Berlin Wall came down years ago the time will come when you will both want to remove the barriers that divide your country.. Just like they did in Germany with the Berlin Wall.. Love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
He also seems to think that as polls don't show a desire for reunification now, those are written in stone for all time. He suggests a reunification referendum would be advisory, something the Federal Trust made a weird attempt to clarify - apparently advisory means not advisory. They also seem not to have read the GFA, going by their illusions about a future of shared sovereignty. As much as the British and unionists hate it, the GFA puts reunification in the hands of the Irish people.
@ddr8215 The same way other democracies do. How does the UK deal with a sizeable portion of the population being Labour Party supporters? People are free to vote for legitimate parties in Ireland.
If the British or unionists think a Situation with Dublin having a any type of political Associate.within the uk are Delusional which this guy has just mentioned...The six Counties are Irish....
@@joprocter4573 did you already told them they will collapse??? because i dont see it on the horizon.. all i smell is British shit in the water everywhere!! and i am sure, the Scots will veto the English application to the EU, same as the French and Polish! your little England is toast!
@@aleph8888you’ve agreed that the protocol is ah good thing then , mitigating against the disastrous the brexit that the onions fell for , ah mean fought for , ah mean voted for , naw naw that’s not quite right they lost the election , the brexit that is is the the brexit they claimed
@@aleph8888and the sheer nastiness of the hate fest that is the 12th of July (but it’s r wee culture) 😂😂😂when they burn effigies of Irish politicians and burn national flags puts the world off !
Great interview. Apropos minorties.There is an arrangement wherein the Danish minority in Slesvig, elect their own representatives to the German Bundestag.
There needs to be a resettlement programme for unionists who don't want to live in a united Ireland. There are vast empty uplands in Scotland where new towns, villages and industries could be established. These people would then be returning to their ancestral home and would have the same religious and cultural values as their Scottish protestant counterparts.
Would it not make more sense to pick a location in Great Britain that at least shares their unionist ideals? It would be more than silly for them to just have to migrate again when Scotland leaves the union, too.
You assume of course that the people of NI collectively want to leave the UK. No such evidence of that and even the nationalists and republican voters do not fully share that view. I was reminded of a poll several years ago, where some 17% of nationalists and republicans would not vote to join a united Ireland. I suspect people would much prefer a independent NI, not union with the South. And what do you propose to do with the million people that do not want a union with the south? Do you really think you can force them into such a union, given the recent history of bloodshed here. No, it requires much more imaginative solutions, not the small minded propaganda from Sein Fein supporters.
The UK will have to pay what it pays annually to Nl to a United Ireland for 25/50 years as a part of a settlement/reperations plus pay any unionist people the cost of relocating to UK if they felt they could no longer live in a Ul
Most if not all making comments about NI, never saw it during the 70s or 80s and have no idea what it was like back then in the 6 counties,i was there so i know what it was really like then,I crossed that border regularly as a teen ,going to disco,s. N pubs n visiting friends ,n shopping and i used to stay at an old farm house there some weekends, outside emniskillen,near the border,with cavan,
Its difficult to know what you mean re your comment? Relating to your experience back then re Northern Ireland, you haven't said what's your preferred option now.
Just hope and pray that all the people in north and south Ireland give peace a chance and don’t blame the British people anymore their a lot of people in England that have very fond memories and Irish friends how are married English people and Irish family’s have been together for years 🙏
Just an FYI, if you ever hear an Irishman say the "f@cking brits" or "the brits are at it again" its in relation to your government and ruling class; certainly not the actually British people. Personally, I'm yet to meet a British person I don't like.
I disagree with Geoff (not sure who he is or credentials) that a united Ireland wouldn't work. It would work extremely well and I dislike the idea unionists have proposed now to save or salvage something politically with ideas such as joint authority, re-partition, boycott of Stormont which ironically republicans used to do as it was a unionist creation 😂
And when the bombs start going off because one marganalised community feels oppressed by the rest of Ireland - still the body bags wouldnt be coming back to the UK this time so why should I worry.
@@Willywin that “marginalised community “ you refer to would have to respect democracy if the people of Ireland voted for unity, and besides they wouldn’t have the UDR and the British military to run to or collude with like they did in the past!
@@taintabird23 I too cannot imagine why the Loyalist Community would feel marginalised having to be ruled from a foreign Paliament that their ancestors fought to be free of - I cannot imagine why tey even want to March in July lol. You clearly have no idea of the communal sectarian differences in N Ireland and so shouldnt really comment, it just shows ignorence - blissful ignorance granted, but still ignorence.
@@anniegrath1417 You mean like the republican community respected democracy and didnt bomb and maim and kill - that sort of respect? But are you saying the Loyalist community wouldnt have the support of terrorist sympathisers like Gaddafi gave to the Irish Republican terrorists, you know to plant bombs on busses with children and families and in pubs and shopping centres... I've news for you, the Loyalist community never did have that kind of support from the type of friends the Republican community had, there a big difference between civil disobedience that would make rule from Dublin impossible - and the murder carried out by the IRA and its supporters.
The fact is that improving community relations and working to eliminate sectarianism within Northern Ireland is more important than manipulating the constitutional arrangements. That has been true throughout the dreadful conflict of the troubles, is still true now as criminal gangs thrive and will continue in the future. The welcome rise of the Alliance Party is the only hope on the horizon. whateer
@roisinmalone3015 The point I am making is that no matter whether the 6 counties of Northern Ireland are part of the UK or part of a united Ireland they will never thrive as a peaceful and constructive place if sectarianism and community division is undefeated.
@@denisloretto5766 Supporting the status quo is a unionist perspective. My view is that sectarianism and division can't be sorted whilst Northern Ireland is in the UK and it's constitutional status going forward is always uncertain. Once the island is united, Northern Ireland isn't going back to the UK so the definition of unionism and what it means to have that identity for those North of the border will change as it did in the South post partition. But I respect that they're are different views re this.
Northern Ireland was never intended to be permanent. A United Ireland is inevitable. Genuine politicians from the "British" community should start negotiating now from a position of strength for a new dispensation for NI within a United Ireland.
Ah United Ireland but let the onions keep thur UK passports n sign on in UK benefits offices , which would be kept in place in the onion areas , wits wrong wi that
Now, what would happen if Scotland wants to use the Windsor framework to demand to have the same deal? Hmm, seems you never answer any questions on topic. Seems you are just a mouthpiece.
Seeing as they entered the "Union" voluntarily, are not allowed to leave and we're not annexed from Ireland, I would guess England would tell them to stfu
No you are inaccurate.. The fact that catholics lead PARRELL life by pre selecting aphreid faith schools at all taxpayers expense is why there is division.. These kids never stood a chance to make up own mind but we're groomed n indoctrinated to hate by association of only ppl they mixed with in every aspect... So it is a shock when come out of school to find oh there's ppl out here not agreeing with their view.. Republicanism
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
Claire any segregation is own made. You select aphreid education which indoctrinate and groom you by the process never to intergrate with equal citizens who after near thousand yrs you still call foreigners. End aphreid all faith schools. Only state schools.
@@svenvandevelde1 we do not say its England. Northern Ireland is a UK domain. Dutch gave us a prince that married our Queen.. Hense orange culture. Religeous European extermination of protestants causing REFUGUEES to flee to protestant ruled countries. Ireland n today's UK were freedom to these REFUGUEES many who came from Belgium and holland. Take your responsibility in history. Upon Ireland wanting independence there was no home for protestants. By that time 40thusand were ethnically cleansed in Ireland so imagine the confidence living in that 26 County state so as mainly protestant of Irish, Scots, English, Welsh, Belgium, holland, France, Germany etc well diluted by this time took refuge in northern Ireland. Imagine a divorce irreconcilable due to protestant faith and culture!? They became proud ulster ppl later Simply northern Irish. Look up heugonots. Look up first ppl as Ireland is land erosion of UK coastal and that's why ppl are mixed heritage. Scots. English. welsh. Ireland was never heard of as it was Scotti until iberian pirates raided n travellers came changing that so who invaded who??? Think of society held so screw ball tight by their church they refuse yes in NI to intergrate with rest of population creating division and arrive at adult hood never speaking to a protestant!! They will never dilute terrorist vote because streaming this way holds flock in position for all things politically.. Fool to think while none attend state school this is ever going to alter. Triple funded by old groups politically abroad USA namely. Palestinian movements. Cuban.,basque protest nations even when nought worth arguing about. End faith schools ends triple funds from dubious sources teach kids together. Now that would be a real good friday
The man has missed the mark. In 10 years, there will be a large Nationalist majority in Northern Ireland, and if Brexit goes poorly as it is, this may lead to a border poll that sees Northern Ireland voting to join the South. The demographics are shifting rapidly.
An element missing from Geoff Martin's otherwise perceptive analysis is the rise of the Alliance Party - reflecting the growing cohort of NI citizens who are largely neutral on the Union but desperately anxious to get on with tackling the serious social and economic problems facing the province. In many ways they are the only hope.
An Indian who comes to the UK can call themselves British or Indian, same for an Aussie, Pakistani or African. Why do NI need to have a formal arrangement to be under the crown to call themselves British.
You will find in the case of India there are formal arrangements that allow people from your country to come to the uk. The good Friday agreement states that I as an Irishman can class myself as Irish or British or both, but under British law I am classed as British. So my Irishness Is diminished as is your claim to be British. If British law doesn't protect Britishness in the event of a United Ireland then it will be diminished
@edwardandrews4087 who gives a shit if some diplomatic lines make you "feel" more or less British? Is this how we're drawing out international borders? Is this what the whole argument is about? How about people in NI start talking about the economics of their position rather than the endless identity politics that have poisoned the discourse in NI for a century.
@@Keeks749 Northern Ireland is a manufactured Sectarian statelet by Britain when the island of Ireland was partitioned against the wishes of the vast majority of the Irish people. Partition damages Ireland, politically economically and emotionally. Northern Ireland only exists because Britain occupied Ireland and colonised it, creating a policy of plantations, ie dispossessing the Irish of their land and resources and putting planters loyal to the crown and Britain on the land instead. That planter majority re Northern Ireland will be gone as a majority of voting age within ten years and so too will the Sectarian statelet of Northern Ireland be gone.
Northern Ireland will survive Brexit as long as the Windsor framework is in place. It might even survive a new Ireland. But the one thing that hasn't changed in 100 years is the lack of democracy. The democracy in the good Friday agreement was good enough for our generation but the next generation will seek to change it. Northern Ireland can't survive a lack of democracy
@@richardbrown6163 Food inflation, April 2023 was as follows: UK 19.3% France 14.5% Germany 14.9% General inflation, June 2023 Eurozone 5.5% UK 8.7% (highest in the G7).
There are currently more than 300,000 British nationals living peacefully in Republic of Ireland. 13.8% of the total population are non-nationals - Ireland is a vibrant, modern European country. I think we could manage reunification and welcome those who identify as British into a re imagined new Ireland. 😃
@@Jj-ff9vqinstead of your childish replies to a rather important question you could have answered it if you are so knowledgeable. Read this: "if both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted in favour of reunification, the Good Friday Agreement states that it “will be a binding obligation on both governments to introduce and support in their respective parliaments legislation to give effect to that wish”." Since it will be a constitutional change, Ireland will later need to have a 2nd referendum after all the negotiating and paperwork is done. Don't know about the situation in NI, but if everything there is based on the 18th century Westminster system probably the janitor can sign off on it while the pm is in hiding somewhere.
The big problem for a United Ireland is that the Unionists will not promote a United Ireland although they seem to be doing their best to actually promote it & Sinn Fein doesn't want to promote now good Ireland is doing under the FF/FG Government, as Geoff pointed out, while SF is in the opposition benches ranting and raving about RTE payments or a public Irish Government Forum on the poor state of the Irish Defence Forces. They had to drop the Social Housing crisis issue as it turned out that 25,000 tax-payer paid houses were given away for FREE in 2021/22 to entitled SF voters with 5,000 refused on grounds like it was too close to her ex or there was no parking for the tax-payer paid FREE car. Any referendum on unification isn't advisory, it is legally binding referendum unlike the Brexit referendum...
Little can be achieved unless those voting call the shots. unfortunately the DUP seem little interested in trade and much in power I find it hard to see a solution
I really appreciate the Fed Trust, and feel informed and supported by these excellent interviews thank you - but I wonder why it’s « talking heads » appear to be exclusively masculine? As a woke remainer this bothers me …
Where do they get this twaddle? Same old British response as if the Unionist's opinion was all that mattered. Too late now, the train has already left the station. It's not a matter of "if" but rather "when".The English taxpayer no longer wants to be stuck with subsidizing NI. If they want to set up a fund to repatriate those Brits who want to go to the "mainland", sign me up. I'll be happy to make a contribution.
Irish both northern Ireland and Republic citizens are heavily populated throughout uk.. Why has this imbecile of a man got such voice on NI.. 3 YRS TO BE FAIR WAS WHAT IRA SINN FEIN TOOK OUT BEFORE DOCKING MLA.. BREXIT MUST BE EQUAL TO REST OF UK..
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
It's was a conflict over who rules over northern ireland the Catholics were the indigious irish the protatants were British it was never a religious conflict
Father of republicanism wolfe tone , robert emmet , rodger casement , erskine childers , just a few republican protistants , its about freedom unity equality not faith . Our protistant pop live fine orange men even in dublin ask them . We dont care what god you pray to as long as its in unity and natural boundrys .
The sorry state of affairs known as the Northern Irish politics is carved up by 2 Nationalists parties. 1 Party wants a British nation the other an Irish nation, but the reality is no one who they think wants actually does want them! The sorry state of affairs to has away to many politicians who are simply unfit to Govern. The state know has Northern Ireland seems to have a chance to grasp an opportunity to have the highest GDP per population than any part of Western Europe. Even the exist boycott by the DUP could have been out maneuvered hours after the DUP refusing to take there seats. If Alliance could have aligned for the sake of the Stormont Assembly Unionist, flexing there dynamic. This would be a win/win for both the DUP and everyone else. The DUP could have headed into opposition, by nature opposition being the pulse anyway. The foreign investment with a UK / EU market access would have raised the standard of living and household income. A rising tide floats all boats.
May's deal had a get out clause, nothing is agreed until everything is agree. The DUP rhymed it like a Limerick rat until the Irish caught on and had it removed
People think a United Ireland will happen without a conflict wrong the IRA fought against British rule the Ulstermen will fight against Irish rule only a new conflict will come from United Ireland that's inevitable more pain an suffering.
Unfortunately, some things will never change ,sadly , nothing but hatred towards each other , spurred on by certain politicians in the year 2023 , its unbelievable
Sept 11th had a profound impact on support (including finance ) from the USA - Irish diaspora & political sphere. Politics was the only route left for those with aspirations for a united Ireland. On the Unionist side - there will be no tacit State sponsorship for loyalist terrorists (this time around). A renewed campaign by either side will suffocate without such support. There is little appetite to return to The Trouble 2.0
@@ffi1001 What you have heard. You heard wrong. Plenty of shitholes in England I have been there many times know from experience not like you. Know where I pefare to live..
Solid? How do you reckon that with a Sinn Fein first minister? The DUP trusted the English on Brexit and it blew up in their face. I never understand how they don't realise what the Brits think of the Irish. They don't care. We are all just "Mick Paddies" to them. Doesn't matter if you're from north or south of the border - most Brits don't even know where the border is!! Irish people know.
Solid - but shrinking in relevance. People are awakening to the importance of food, shelter and security for themselves and their families as more relevant than any ideology - there is little nutritional value in hating your neighbour. I long for the day when politicians in the six counties are elected because they are honest, effective and decent human beings rather than which version of God they purport to support.
A remarkably well informed, balanced discussion for UA-cam about Northern Ireland, with only a slight hint of gas-lighting being swallowed by the contributor. The martens centre, an EU think tank, were the first ones to put this proposal forward in 2020, in their article "doesn’t an independent northern Ireland deserve chance". The only portion this gentleman was too polite to quote was the qualifying statement made at the end of the article about loyalist involvement, in which the article pointed out "It would protect them against their fear of being subsumed against their will into a united Ireland. A fear that remains blissfully ignored by Dublin". This is the reason his proposal about Dublin and London oversight of an Independent Northern wouldn’t work. The Loyalists and non-aligned don’t trust Dublin, the Republicans actively hate London and trust Dublin only a little more. A secular, democratic, Independent Northern Ireland has massive potential to be really successful, but London, Dublin and crown involvement in an Independent Northern Ireland are non-starters, their help and support yes, democratic involvement no. The main problem with achieving Independence is that loyalists will assume independence is a proxy for tricking them into a united Ireland as Republican proxy political party’s cloaked in moderate politics already exist in Northern Ireland.
"doesn’t an independent northern Ireland deserve chance"? Northern Ireland(NI) CANNOT become an independent state, because there is NO SUCH legal option available to it. NI's constitutional status is defined in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. That status is binary; as long as a majority of its voters wish to maintain the status quo, NI will continue to be a constituent part of the UK. IF a majority of its voters decide to change their constitutional status, NI becomes part of united Ireland. Another reason why NI CANNOT become independent is because it has a deficit of 27% of GNP. Any attempt to go downtime independence route would simply result in economic collapse. A third reason why NI could NOT function as an independent state is because any attempt to become independent would would almost certainly be voted down by the Catholic/Nationalist/Republican(CNR) majority. If the PUL establishment tried to go for a unilateral declaration of independence,, that would either trigger a restart of 'The Troubles' by the CNR majority, or simply petitions by the CNR majorities in four of the Six Counties to merge with Ireland. Derry, Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone are all majority CNR counties. While the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist(PUL) demographic are still a majority of the population of Down and Antrim, Belfast is now a CNR majority city, while the Glens of Antrim are also majority-CNR. Independence is not an option for NI, either constitutionally, politically, or economically.
@@roseanne9986I mean idk in paper it makes sense instead of all it once flinging everything back into a united Ireland phase it in over time every 3 years add a new piece and within 20 years its done
Geoff Martin is clearly not a unionist and clearly anti-brexit, why are we listening to his biased unrealistic views. Does he not know that the DUP is but the voice of unionism and most demand the DUP stays strong in it's position.
Red Lane / Green Lane Trusted Trader and more data sharing is huge steps towards the EUs own authored Smart Border 2.0 With regulatory alignment on goods the Protocol can be effectively cast into the bin, Smart Border 2.0 will have been implemented and the Belfast Agreement remain protected.
The Protocol cannot be cast in the bin. It has been signed into UK, EU and international law. You are fighting in your head a battle that has already been lost. So far I have explained this to you twice in the last few days. Karlsson's Smart Border 2.0 requires infrastructure at the border, which is precisely why it was cast in the bin by all sides,. Customs staff and infrastructure carry out multiple operations, not just controlling goods.
@@frankoneill5675 not when the red lane/green lane with trusted trader and data sharing (please share emerging data Frankie as you will have this on % of red lane traffic) is combined with regulatory alignment for UK products being exported to the EU under the TCA.
@@frankoneill5675 smuggling became a problem in England in the 13thC....thats how old smuggling is Frankie babe. No system on Earth can prevent it, as you think, you're deluded. How do the Irish completely stop smugglers of guns, drugs and tobacco?
@@Jj-ff9vq How would Smart Border 2.0, without infrastructure, as you claim - although Lars Karlsson, its inventor, outlines clearly the multiple kinds of infrastructure it would need - prevent smuggling across the 310 land border crossings?
To hell with the DUP ( don't understand politics ) .
The solution is simple restart stormont ASAP and let the DUP lose their voting rights .
They'll be running back like a shot especially when there's a vote on a united Ireland .
And stop paying their salaries until they go back into parliament.
Dissolve stormont and have direct rule from Westminster. Northern Ireland is just a pain in the ass for England .
I think the D.U.P. are scared of the fact that the type of N.I., they used to live in, is slipping away. Apathy from an indifferent British government, who, because of Brexit, will have to borrow more and more money each year, as their tax take diminishes, putting the viability of keeping N.I. in the union, under the spotlight.
And the ROI will have to pick up some of the slack from that diminish tax take, the Republic is investing heavily in the north now and the unionist hate it..
@@kevonslims7269 no. We’ll take anyone’s money. This is the true Unionist revenge when the Irish taxpayer has to pick up the tab for Northern Ireland. Hilarious.
The smart ones ( Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the SDLP have sussed that but the rest of them have not.
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
@@kevonslims7269 yeah they've a pot of 500 million !!
Ire has to borrow and borrow every year from the EU. The difference being ni is part of the uk, and the ppl want it that way.
This discussion spectacularly misses the elephant in the room - probably deliberately. The fact is that Unionist voters are now a minority of the electorate in NI and also demographically skew very elderly and lower income. Unionism no longer has the raw numbers or the military, cultural, economic, social and political clout to prevent Unification by themselves. It's the non-aligned bloc that currently hold the balance of power in any unification referendum - and even that will likely only last another 15 years or so, there is a large nationalist majority in younger demographics. But Unionism, and the British media, are in complete denial about this fact. The DUP accepting an SF First Minister would make this (presently ignored) fact a very real present reality in the minds of many unionists and be tantamount in unionist thinking to an admission that the game is over, thus is something the DUP can never actually do. Also, saying that a small and dwindling unionist minority will never consent therefore the rest of the island must continue to pander to the injustice of partition indefinitely is fundamentally Imperialist and profoundly anti-democratic.
I agree the DUP are being ahort sighted. By holding the assembly to ransom, they are saying "you won't ever have government under the current system"
They risk pushing more and more people towards saying "Guess we need to make a big change then!"
Many nationalists are only straw nationalists. They know if they separate from the UK all the money and jobs will disappear and won’t be replaced by RoI or the great Satan (EU). While they will never vote for the Union there are many ( with sense) who will not vote to leave the Union and will abstain in any vote. Same as in Scotland. The economy will be the decider and RoI and the Sinners don’t have the answers to the economic questions being asked about their leprechaun themed nirvana.
Northern Ireland's constitutional status is defined within the Good Friday Agreement and it can leave the UK if thats what it appears that the majority wants in the North, the British Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is legally obliged to call a border poll in those circumstances. And then if the Republic of Ireland agrees, unification happens and Northern Ireland is gone from the UK.
A simple majority 50 percent plus one both North and South is all thats needed and the decision is for the island of Ireland ALONE to decide no outside impediment or interference. That's Britain and British people within Britain. Irish reunification is none of their concern. A United Ireland will be a sovereign independent country within the EU.
@@davealex6640
Yes the British Secretary of State is legally obliged to call a border poll when the circumstances are deemed there for one.
Re the criteria.
The Irish Government, Nationalist Parties in the North have asked the British Government to lay out the criteria but the British Government hasn't as of yet.
Don't worry, when the time is nearer, enough pressure can be put on the British Government to lay out the criteria clearly.
Unless you're one of those who hasn't seen how the British Government had to crawl back and implement the Protocol properly and negotiate the Windsor Framework.
Ireland is in the bigger Union plus the US is very keen on the Good Friday Agreement being implemented properly. Resolutions in both the US Senate and House of Representatives restating US commitment to the Good Friday Agreement being supported on a bi partisan basis recently attest to that.
Do you still think Britain is a big power and can just break international agreements because it's 'special' 😂
@@davealex6640
Re Sinn Féin meeting the monarchy etc.
That's their job as First Minister in waiting and Speaker etc 🤔
Re the British subjects.
Some unionists will remain British to begin with, no doubt as some did when the Republic of Ireland became independent. But they soon changed.
Britain doesn't give a toss about Unionists from Northern Ireland and they would sacrifice some of the perks of being in United Ireland citizen if they want to remain British.
Plus re polls that's mainly older Unionists re demographics and they'll die out.
@@davealex6640
Seriously the Ireland's airspace stuff?
😂
What's that got to do with a United Ireland.
Britain helps defend Ireland's airspace at the moment because Ireland let's it and it's in both countries interests. Britain always had a strategic interest in Ireland, on that's partly why it invaded it and occupied it for centuries. It's always been perceived as a threat and a weakness on its western flank.
Britain doesn't help protect Irish airspace because it's so kind or cares about Ireland or something 😂. It couldn't give a toss about Ireland. It does it purely for selfish reasons ie it's in its own interests to do it. And it suits Ireland too.
Though it looks like Ireland will be a part of an EU general defence type arrangement in the future so the arrangement will probably come to an end then.
Your points are all very strange.
I've pointed out reunification happens re the Good Friday Agreement. And unification now is inevitable re demographics alone.
Whats your problem with that. Demographics aren't fantasy they're reality.
@@davealex6640
A panel of international experts met recently and the international norm re circumstances like this is polls demographics and elections.
You seriously think that Britain and the British Government can keep Northern Ireland trapped in the UK if it looks likely that the majority don't want that re polls elections and demographics 😂.
Still deluded, thinking that Britain can flout international agreements. The British Government is legally obliged re the Good Friday Agreement to call a border poll and international pressure will ensure that it does. Remember the British Government crawling back to implement the Protocol properly when Britain thought it could do as it likes. 😁🤣. That was funny.
Plus Britain can't wait to get rid of Northern Ireland anyway. In a recent poll the majority of British people would rather hold onto the Falkland islands than to Northern Ireland.
Britain will be delighted to get Northern Ireland off its hands especially now since it's so stuffed by Brexit. And the Brexity types can't implement their pure sovereign Brexit because the Good Friday Agreement keeps stuffing them up. The British economy is stuffed re Brexit and has no room to improve. There's no money for Britain, let alone Northern Ireland.
@@davealex6640
There's people in the Republic of Ireland that want the Republic of Ireland to be in the UK. Who? 🤣..
The demographics are going one way and you can't fight demographics.
The DUP 🤣. They're a disaster. All they can negotiate with the British Government is that the British Government restates Northern Ireland's constitutional status as per the Good Friday Agreement.
Unionism is stuffed and dying. The staunch variety are the old and dying off.
Re the loyalists who don't want a United Ireland. Too bad. That's democracy and equality and they wouldn't have the support of the British State this time and they couldn't get Northern Ireland back into the UK anyway. Plus they don't have much community support. They're criminals and drug dealers.
Unification is inevitable, only a question of when.
The only chance Northern Ireland has of remaining in the UK once the Nationalists are the majority is if unionists contribute towards making Northern Ireland a pleasant equal place for nationalists to live.
But extreme unionists are incapable of that because they view equality as defeat. So they also contribute towards the inevitability of a United Ireland re their bigoted stance towards anything Irish.
Plus the island is already reuniting economically.
I’ve said it before but can’t resist it again. Give all the Unionists who want to be regarded as British a dinghy and a google map to allow them to find their way to Bradford, Preston, Birmingham etc. etc. & house them in hotels until we can get the Rwanda scheme back on track😂
DUP réunion Comeback tour Rwanda 2023, tickets still available, all of them
Britain and even the UK as a whole is disunited politically, socially, culturally and linguistically.
The poor political choices and decisions of Brexit have made the lack of unity ever clearer for the entire world to see.
It's not just disunited, it's also completely imbalanced.
Politically, it has devolved governments, but most of the power lies in Tory Westminster which has the UK at political loggerheads. These devolved governments squabble and fight amongst each other which details the disunity.
Brexit was divisive and it shows how disunited the UK is with the occupied region called "Northern Ireland" and the country of Scotland voting No to Brexit.
The UK is literally split down the middle in the Brexit debacle which makes it politically disunited.
Furthermore, the UK isn't a voluntary union because Scotland is actively being denied another independence referendum post Brexit - this, again, makes it a disunited partnership + an imbalanced and undemocratic one.
Welsh and Scottish independence is growing while talks of Irish reunification are on everyone's lips - this, again, demonstrates a disunited and imbalanced union.
Socially, culturally and linguistically it is also divided and disunited as the different parts have their own culture and language + Britain has become increasingly "British Asian".
Brexit itself limits multiculturalism and encourages exclusive nationalism and nativism which in effect breeds racism and xenophobia (the very core of Brexit and Brexiteers).
Great Britain was never united, but instead it's DISUNITED and IMBALANCED as well as UNDEMOCRATIC and UNJUST.
And it's actively breaking up which is the ultimate win 😅
Good comment!!!! The (dis)United Kingdom is laid bare for all to see because Queen Elizabeth II did absolutely nothing to keep the peoples of the UK together. There's so much disharmony between the people and Charles and William have to work hard to kick everyone into shape in order to save the Union but it's a bit late for that because as you rightly point out, people can see the imbalances everywhere within the Union.
I agree with all the comment except the bit about independence growing in Scotland. Support for independence has hovered around 50% for the past 8 years in spite of brexit. I wish it was otherwise but we need to be honest.
If it wasnt for a third of True Scotsm and Northern Irish rejectimg federalism, alongside the majority of Great Welsh and English, Brexit wouldnt have happened. Fact. 😂
@@Purple_flower09true, ut some poster from Scotland, might even have been you, replied to me when I said something similar that once an active campaign will be started (in case of a referendum) those numbers would go up dramatically.
What is your take on that?
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
So, if the DUP were happy with the referendum in 2016, where a simple majority was considered sufficient to justify Brexit, why would they not be happy with the same arrangement in a referendum on unifying Ireland?
Because the happiness about the legitimacy of referendums is determined by the outcome?
Probably the same reason the Republicans in N Ireland wouldnt accept British Rule - but at least if Ireland was united and the Loyalist community was subject to Irish rule then with the communal and sectarian history of N Ireland, the body bags wouldnt be coming to the UK.
@@WillywinI see your obsessed with body bags again Willy?? Sounds like threats to me!
@@anniegrath1417 Sounds like you have first hand knowledge of threats - not a irish republican are you, they know all about making threats - even threatened to bring back the bombs if the British didnt accept a fake border down the Irish sea... So tell me about threats again???
Your comment sounds like a threat to me.
Hahah yea that bit always gets me when you have unionists openly admitting to being anti democracy if it doesn't go their own way yet never get push back on that
Geoff is completely ignoring the massive demographic shift taking place - the opinion polls will shift dramatically as maj unionists die and maj nationalists come of voting age in rapidly increasing proportions.
Yeah there seems to be heads in the sand about that but it will become apparent in the next few years in a big way. Unionists numbers in terms of votes will dwindle to such a level that changes will have to happen.
The British never had any business in Ireland, yesterday, today or tomorrow!!
Really, not a view widely shared where I live in NI
@@BrokenHill56 really ? OK! Lolololol
@@BrokenHill56 recent election polls would beg to differ !
The British want out, but shussh … don’t tell the planters ok, they believe the union is safe! Lol
@@BrokenHill56that’s because ye were put there to keep a majority
Excellent interview. Many thanks all in the federal trust.
Great interview, very informative.👍
Will you be doing a piece on this on your channel. 😉
Fully agree...
THE DUP STILL DOESN'T GET IT THAT EVERY DAY THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE IRELLIVANT.
NOBODY CARES WHAT THEY SAY ANYMORE.
You Dont get they speak union for more ppl than ira sinn fein in small British Irish domain
@@joprocter4573 If they hadn't supported the Tories we might not have a border down the Irish sea. They literally helped break up the Union.
Some do - and the ones that do matter. They're still the largest Unionist Party in Northern Ireland and obviously still have a lot of support within that community. The reality is nothing can move forward without their support. Stormont is still not functioning and budgets are not being spent so to say that nobody cares about them anymore is simply not true. The problem the Unionists have right now is the British government is not willing to jeopardize delicate negotiations with the EU on their future relationship simply to pander to DUP demands - The truth is Northern Ireland does not rank high in the overall scheme of things and the DUP knows it. So the only course of action they can turn to now is obstructionism just make things as awkward as possible for everyone.
A single entity Ireland is inevitable.
Lets just work towards that in a peaceful way.
What do you do if northern ire dont want it? -
Send in EU panzers?
@@jonsimmons4150
No. They have had enough of unwanted foreign military interference.
Go with the Democratic wishes of the people.
@@johnfoley9031 give them a referendum!!
-*OH! WAIT!!*
@@jonsimmons4150
The 3 parts of the United Kingdom that voted to stay part of the European Union were London, Scotland & Northern Ireland.!
The recent local & national elections were dominated by SF.
@@johnfoley9031 its called democracy unfortunatly. You cant cherry pick the bits you want
I would love to see a united Ireland. The division of Ireland is similar to what Putin did in Ukraine where ethnic russians in the east were used as a ruse to split the country of Ukraine. The UK did the same for the protestants in the north even though the entire history of Ireland was of one single entity. Now that the protestants are in the minority the DUP have resorted to obstruction and siege mentality.
im not against a unification of ireland... but " even though the entire history of Ireland was of one single entity" is complete nonsense! the only time ireland was united in the past, was under british control. before that there have been several rival kingdoms, tribes etc. the normans, viking, celts, brits all tried to get their share of ireland. ireland was not only not a "single entity", but divided in different countries and by different languages, religions and cultures for around a thousand years, before the brits "colonised" ireland and "unified" it under british rule, language and culture.
@@MrNukedawhales Ireland was united under Brian Boru. More united than the "United" Kingdom in fact.
@@stiofain88 how so? ...and for how many days?
@@MrNukedawhalesNorthern Ireland remains under British control. Look how unified that is as we approach the marching season.
@@MrNukedawhales Longer than Truss lasted in number 10 👍
The DUP never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
The DUP is so dim it's comical.
The Orange Taliban (DUP) painted themselves into a corner and are calling for more paint.
Do Brits think we fought British rule for centuries for the laugh of it or something? When people fight, they fight for a good reason and when a nation fights it's because something was taken away from them!
After the Norman/Anglo Invasion of Ireland in the 1100s, we then had Planters arrive as per The Plantations in 16th- and 17th-century which involved the confiscation of Irish-owned land by the English Crown and the colonisation of land with settlers from Britain.
We fought back:
1. The two Desmond Rebellions took place in 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 to *fight against the threat of the extension of the English government* over the province.
2. The successful Battle of Clontibret was *fought against the British* in County Monaghan in 1595.
3. The successful Battle of the Yellow Ford was *fought against the British* in County Armagh in 1598.
4. The Nine Years' War, sometimes called Tyrone's Rebellion took place in Ireland from 1593 to 1603. It was fought between an Irish alliance to *fight against English rule in Ireland.*
5. The Rebellion of 1641 took place when Irish Catholics were being threatened by expansion of the anti-Catholic English Parliament and Scottish Planters and they *rebelled against English and Protestant domination.*
6. The Irish Rebellion of 1798 was a major uprising *against British rule in Ireland.* (The Society of United Irishmen was led primarily by liberal Protestants).
The Irish wanted an end to anti-Catholic discrimination, greater Irish self-governance, and to roll back the Plantations of Ireland.
7. The Irish rebellion of 1803 was launched by Irish republicans *against British rule in Ireland*
8. The Young Irelander Rebellion was an Irish nationalist uprising led by the Young Ireland movement, part of the wider Revolutions of 1848.
9. The Fenian Rising of 1867 was a rebellion *against British rule in Ireland*, organised by the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
10. The Easter Rising of 1916 was piloted by Irish republicans *against British rule in Ireland* with the aim of establishing an independent Irish Republic.
11. The civil rights movement in the early 1960s challenged the inequality and discrimination against ethnic Irish Catholics that was perpetrated by the Ulster Protestant community.
12. Derry activists' marched on the 5 October 1968 in Derry, but were attacked by the RUC and loyalists.
THAT IS A SNAPSHOT OF HOW WE HAVE FOUGHT AND RESISTED BOTH BRITISH RULE AND DISCRIMINATION BY THE UNIONIST COMMUNITY
You took our Patrick The Brit and enslaved him.
Your government couldnt even pick a side in the face of an advancing Nazi army.
Lowballers.
Such a sad bigoted analysis. I’ll bet all your fighting was done from the comfort of your armchair.
Ireland will have an economic union in 5 years...any dinosaurs who don't want to be a part of that union will be just left behind...unionism is a Tory construct...Tories will be out of power next year...11 billion going to the North of Ireland will be reviewed in light of the NHS, water, rail and the other pressing issues in England...so ...political union or reunification ...40 years ...we in the South are doing OK...who in their right mind would want to be dealing with that bat shit crazy...Sammy Wilson or Paisleys young fella.
So the Brits will think long and hard about what unionism and Ireland mean and will come to the opinion that ...claiming sovereignty over any part of Ireland was a bad thing ,never worked and in the future hasn't a hope of working...so our history lesson after 800 years will slowly come to an end and the island can then call itself sovereign but not United...only economically..and truth ..I'm good with that...I couldn't care a shit what religion you are,unionist ,nationalist ...but I do care that we are all Irish or Irish / English on the island.
This is the most honest, reasoned, realistic and open discussion I've ever witnessed on the subject of NI in an almost 50 year lifetime living on the island.
Ah the DUP, living in their own personal reality since 1998. a reality nobody else shares..
The most remarkable thing about this channel is not only do you not understand the United States, you appear to not understand Ireland or even Great Britain. That's a disconnect with reality, not culture.
I can't work out your comment when the guy who's being interviewed is Irish, a former rep of the European Commission and a former member of the office of the Secretary General of the Commonwealth. Remember the guy's only giving his opinion on the matter and he stated he's reliably been informed the DUP will lever herself into the Executive.
The problem is your using sense and logic here. The DUP don't work that way. Its a NO or a NEVER from narrow minded unionists.
The reunification of Ireland would be a Brexit benefit for Britain, they want it gone.....
Their behaviour over the last seven years suggests the opposite.
Are you sure, then why have they not called a Border poll?
Give Ireland Back to the Irish
Tell that to the globalists as well who are destroying Ireland and Western Europe.
@@paullooney2522 What are you on about?
@@roryoneill9444 Figure that out yourself.
@@paullooney2522 sounds like waffle 🤪
@@paullooney2522 Why comment if you can't back your comment up when someone asks you about it.
Referendum is advisory? LIKE BREXIT an advisory referendum?
There is no Irish problem just a English problem 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪
There certainly is an English problem. However and speaking as one with dual nationality outside of the UK I have yet to come across anywhere that has « no problem ». So from your Dublin vantage point can you tell this problematic half Brit Catholic pro-Irish remainer whether that was just a slogan or a serious statement (pal)?
There is an English problem in Scotland too. I just wish we could dump them.
Incorrect
@@audreymcgready4329probem in Scotland is ira republicans population.
@@audreymcgready4329 No there isn't, it's a Westminster problem, it's a neoliberal capitalist problem. If you want the English out then I want you out.
Ignore them, Sinn Fein are the majority party.
Only because half of the unionists didn't vote
A border referendum is not advisory it's binding. The GFA is an international treaty not an internal UK law.
Not sure where he got that from.
Any more than the other guy suggesting Westminster will introduce legislation that the Six Counties will only leave the UK in tightly defined circumstances.
With all due respect, President Biden and our Americans cousins are ensuring that you ''brits don't screw around'' with the GFA.
Stormont is a largely empty grandiose building that hosts an 'assembly' with little powers.
Sinn Féin, the largest party by far on this island, rule from Dublin. You can talk all you want till you go blu.. err.. red in the face but ultimately it is Dublin that determines the fate of it's four Irish provinces.
Sinn Féin is in opposition in the Dàil and can't get into power sharing in the North. Also Sinn Féin will not want to promote how good Ireland is under FF/FG as that would be shoot themselves in the next elections. If it wasn't for the Housing Crisis due to the lack of workers in the Construction sector and the increase in raw materical costs for the sector, Sinn Féin could only rant about RTE.
What new "certainty' legislation does the UK Gov propose to pass next month? The GFA is clear that the decision on the future of NI depends on popular vote in NI and in Ireland. If the UK Gov. passes legislation that is contrary to the intent and spirit of the GFA - which is international law - the amount of ensuing anger in the Irish population should not be underestimated.
Talk about a long hot summer if they tried pulling anything of the sort 🔥🔥. Doubt they will though.
The USA brokered the GFA, and it will make sure Britain does not renege on the deal.
The DUP ... is History!!! Teresa May bought their souls!!!
But they stabbed her in the back!
With the obviously imminent re-unification of Ireland, And the quiet 'putting down' of DUP and Co. It doesn't need to.
Sure! Just join the rest of Ireland and do exceedingly well!
The problem is the older supporters of the DUP were mostly Brexiters and their off spring weren't try squaring that circle. You can't
@@Buckets1000 yes every thing you said is correct but the older DUP offspring don't in many cases feel the same way as their parents. i happened to meet one of these younger people working in the south and i did ask him not in a bad way how come he didn't work in England he said why would i go Overseas yes Overseas his words not mine when i can drive along a motorway and get what i want i said Good for you to which a grin came over his face. A Massive Change don't you think
@@davidwhite-dp8snyou kept ah eye oan the cvnt but ay
@@stephenwalker850 i don't get what your trying to say if it's worth saying express it clearly you are entitled to an opinion
In general Brendan Donnelly is a good objective commentator on Brexit and UK issues; however, Geoff Martin doesn't seem to appreciate trends... the change in demographics, religion, politics, North-South arrangements, Anglo-Irish arrangements, education, and most importantly, the economic success south of the border over the past thirty years. He doesn't refer to the possible terminal decline in British/English GDP and society. He doesn't mention the fact that the EU could replace the UK subsidy to NI from the small change in its budget. He isn't looking at the fact that the vast vast majority of English (not necessarily Welsh or Scottish) people want rid of NI. Assuming Labour return to government in the next year or two, the DUP's twisted relationship with the Tories will matter less and less.
I'm not suggesting that NI will reunify with the rest of the island. But I state clearly that the factors that will ultimately decide that question were not even considered by Mr. Martin.
NI should just join the Republic of Ireland and Europe.
No thanks. You can keep it all for yourselves. An expensive sh1t hole.
@@joemdee I see all that was left in the food banks for dinner was salt.
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
@@svenvandevelde1 Yeah, in modern Europe, Christianity isn't that big of a thing. It's pretty clear religion does a better job of dividing people than bringing them together.
@@svenvandevelde1 It is nothing to do with religion - it has all to do with power and privilege.
Mr Donnelly (great IRISH surname)
Excuse you, but it is REUNIFICATION of Ireland.
Ireland was united in many ways before the Norman/Anglo invasion of the 1100s and united linguistically, lawfully, culturally and socially right up to the 1700s before British rule took hold.
Ireland was actually more unified in the 17th century than Britain is in 2023.
1. Ireland was united before the coming of the Brits/Normans in 1169 as we had one law for the whole island i.e. *Brehon Law*
This particular law was in place for 1000 years and was first set down on parchment in the 7th century.
This law was operational in Ireland even until the completion of the English conquest of Ireland in the early 17th century. Brehon Law is seen today as very advanced for that time.
Brehon Law is hugely important and not to be overlooked as insignificant. *Brehon Law was very advanced for that era and was even in use right up until the 17th century before the Brits took hold*
2. The whole island was *united linguistically as we all spoke Old Irish*
The Irish language is around since the Bronze Age and is about 2,500 years old. We all shared the Irish language so were linguistically entwined.
3. *We were united both culturally and socially, too all the while operating under one law and conversing in Irish*
One's culture is based firmly around many different parts of everyday life and pre-Norman invasion, Gaelic Irish style of dress, music, dance, sport, social gathering, architecture, and art was nationwide.
4. We had unity albeit political unity, but where and when, even today, has politics ever been united!?
Are the folks in Westminster united? Are the folks in the Dáil Éireann united? I think not.
Conclusion:
The truth is the British invasion destroyed our laws and language therefore creating division - the invasion tried to divide the people and successfully partitioned the island.
Ireland was united in many ways before the British arrived and will be reunified when Britain leaves.
The Federal Trust exists to promote debate. Geoff Martin’s views are worth hearing by anyone interested in the future of Northern Ireland. That is why the Federal Trust is happy to feature him as a contributor.
Dia duit a chara agus go raibh maith agat.
Tá buíochas agam ort.
@@geovanniali6060 Dia diobh a cairde agus Bannacht
Of course it can, by joining the rest of Ulster as part of Ireland.
DUP never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
How would a referendum in unification be "advisory". Ireland doesn't do advisory referendums.
Nor does the GFA, where the poll conditions are clearly outlined, and where the British government must exercise rigorous impartiality.
Ireland was united in many ways before the Norman/Anglo invasion of the 1100s and united linguistically, lawfully, culturally and socially right up to the 1700s before British rule took hold.
Ireland was actually more unified in the 17th century than Britain is in 2023.
1. Ireland was united before the coming of the Brits/Normans in 1169 as we had one law for the whole island i.e. *Brehon Law*
This particular law was in place for 1000 years and was first set down on parchment in the 7th century.
This law was operational in Ireland even until the completion of the English conquest of Ireland in the early 17th century. Brehon Law is seen today as very advanced for that time.
Brehon Law is hugely important and not to be overlooked as insignificant. *Brehon Law was very advanced for that era and was even in use right up until the 17th century before the Brits took hold*
2. The whole island was *united linguistically as we all spoke Old Irish*
The Irish language is around since the Bronze Age and is about 2,500 years old. We all shared the Irish language so were linguistically entwined.
3. *We were united both culturally and socially, too all the while operating under one law and conversing in Irish*
One's culture is based firmly around many different parts of everyday life and pre-Norman invasion, Gaelic Irish style of dress, music, dance, sport, social gathering, architecture, and art was nationwide.
4. We had unity albeit political unity, but where and when, even today, has politics ever been united!?
Are the folks in Westminster united? Are the folks in the Dáil Éireann united? I think not.
Conclusion:
The truth is the British invasion destroyed our laws and language therefore creating division - the invasion tried to divide the people and successfully partitioned the island.
Ireland was united in many ways before the British arrived and will be reunified when Britain leaves.
You seem to have overlooked Niall of the Nine Hostages? Saint and family man that he was. Lol.
@@joemdee *Legend* has it that it was Niall of the Nine Hostages who, on a raid in Wales, captured a young slave and brought him to Ireland. That slave would later escape and go to become Ireland's patron saint, St. Patrick.
Try harder, little Englander.
@@joemdee are you from the occupied counties or from Grim Britain?
@@IrishLadASMR I don’t think he captured a young slave. Patrick didn’t become a slave until he fell into the hands of the Irish.
Fuck your are so unintelligent. You are no challenge.
"The DUP is a strange animal ...and are sovereign maniacs!!" Oh I love it, just love it. Bang on
The refurendum would be advisory??? Not according to the good friday agreement.
Geoff’s point was that if the referendum did not show a majority for Irish unification it would not change the status quo. In that sense it would only be “advisory.”He does not doubt that if there were a majority for Irish unification it would be binding. He does not however think there will be a majority in NI for Irish unification in the near future.
@@federaltrust A vote not changing the status quo puts binding obligations on the governments just as a vote to change the status quo does. The use of the word advisory suggests the government is not bound by the result.
In recent years we have heard several reports of the British government and unionists trying to doctor the GFA in unionists' favour, with talk of weighted majorities etc. Bertie Ahern claimed that in April the British government wanted to make changes to it to appease unionists. I wouldn't want to take on the herculean task of trying to appease unionists. It's no surprise that Joe Biden came over 'to make sure the Brits don't screw around'.
Understandably, words like advisory make some of us suspicious.
@@frankoneill5675, any change to the 50%+1 requirement in the GFA will see widespread CNR disengagement from the democratic process, and label it as a stacked deck.
And rightly so...
To a large extent this has happened already re. Brexit, and we don't really give a fiddlers if Stormont never turns a light on again.
@@stevendenny7260 They will never stop trying to change the simple majority; if it wasn't for the Americans, they would have done long ago. That's why I'm suspicious of this guy's use of the word advisory, like a process of getting people used to such ideas. Tony Connelly reported last year that there were rumours around that Johnson was thinking of introducing cross community consent on reunification. Whether that was just trying to inflame things or serious is impossible to know.
They are not to be trusted.
..❤️... A New Way FORWOULD FOR IRELAND....❤️.. This is a good time for Ireland to reunite as one country England is clearly going into recession which will affect the people living in the north of Ireland also a lot of people voted in the referendum to remain in Europe but England has taken the North of ireland out of Europe...... So by the north of Ireland reuniting as one country with the South you would automatically be back as European citizens again and the economy in the south of Ireland is in a very good shape so you would not be in a recession any more,, your lives in the North will not change unless you want them to and you would have a say in the whole of the Irish government what laws you want and the way forward for Ireland and that would include the north of Ireland automatically I hope the people in the north of Ireland will seriously think about so many benefits coming together as one country ireland.... Please let me reassure you that you have nothing to fear from your brothers and sisters in the South,,, and your brothers and sisters in the north has nothing to fear from you..... Independence must come in Ireland incomplete peace right across ireland for everyone nobody should fear anything from anybody. It's a big step worth taking and I hope in the north of Ireland you will take the step in the right direction.. And put the past behind you....., and that you both in the South and the north enjoy the whole of Ireland together just like the Berlin Wall came down years ago the time will come when you will both want to remove the barriers that divide your country.. Just like they did in Germany with the Berlin Wall.. Love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️ love and peace❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓💓
Why did Geoff Martin say at 13 minutes that a 32 county Ireland would not work. I would have pulled him up on where he gets that opinion from.
He also seems to think that as polls don't show a desire for reunification now, those are written in stone for all time. He suggests a reunification referendum would be advisory, something the Federal Trust made a weird attempt to clarify - apparently advisory means not advisory. They also seem not to have read the GFA, going by their illusions about a future of shared sovereignty. As much as the British and unionists hate it, the GFA puts reunification in the hands of the Irish people.
@ddr8215 The same way other democracies do. How does the UK deal with a sizeable portion of the population being Labour Party supporters? People are free to vote for legitimate parties in Ireland.
If the British or unionists think a Situation with Dublin having a any type of political Associate.within the uk are Delusional which this guy has just mentioned...The six Counties are Irish....
@@donnachamcgowan There is no provision for any of the nonsense he proposes. Just another unionist terrified of reunification.
Tiocfaidh àr là. A united ireland is going to happen sooner or later.
This was great, thanks!
Ireland dont need the Brits that much... so if the UK leaves now for the pacific ocean, it would be okay!
Actually there’s already an island of garbage floating in the pacific. No need for a second
Like rest of Europe Ireland will collaspe
@@joprocter4573 did you already told them they will collapse???
because i dont see it on the horizon..
all i smell is British shit in the water everywhere!!
and i am sure, the Scots will veto the English application to the EU, same as the French and Polish!
your little England is toast!
@@joprocter4573failed state NI pal , it jist is
@@stephenwalker850 no sa otaged state by terrorist mentality
Thanks to the DUP we are now closer to a United Ireland 👏🏻🙏🏻🙂🇮🇪🍀
Really the DUP and brexit brexit also played a huge role in it
Wish you luck on trying to get the Unionist to move on anything 🇮🇪
So glad to see that the British government actions are leading the path for a united Ireland.
Why would NI leave when it gets the best of both worlds. And the sheer nastiness of Irish Republicanism puts NI off.
@@aleph8888you’ve agreed that the protocol is ah good thing then , mitigating against the disastrous the brexit that the onions fell for , ah mean fought for , ah mean voted for , naw naw that’s not quite right they lost the election , the brexit that is is the the brexit they claimed
@@aleph8888and the sheer nastiness of the hate fest that is the 12th of July (but it’s r wee culture) 😂😂😂when they burn effigies of Irish politicians and burn national flags puts the world off !
pity the Irish government are not doing the same
@@Western008 Neither has Northern Ireland under British rule!
The referendum on unification will be advisory only? Try not implementing that in the post-Brexit political world!
Great interview. Apropos minorties.There is an arrangement wherein the Danish minority in Slesvig, elect their own representatives to the German Bundestag.
Ah more old British men talking about Ireland.
From a straw-clutching unionist point of view
Geoff Martin is from the North.
Same as the old English men talking about Scotland and telling us they know better. Ignorant, Arrogant, Exceptionalism with them.
@@roryoneill9444 I know
There needs to be a resettlement programme for unionists who don't want to live in a united Ireland. There are vast empty uplands in Scotland where new towns, villages and industries could be established. These people would then be returning to their ancestral home and would have the same religious and cultural values as their Scottish protestant counterparts.
I live in these vast empty uplands and there's just enough infrastructure to support the people here now. Apart from that , we don't want them. 😆
@@beachcomber1able infrastructure can be created. There was once a time when there was no infrastructure anywhere.
London created the problem, let them go there.
@@gerry20pno thanks
Would it not make more sense to pick a location in Great Britain that at least shares their unionist ideals? It would be more than silly for them to just have to migrate again when Scotland leaves the union, too.
The dup can only be "won over" with cash and the Brits will eventually pay to get out of NI.
You assume of course that the people of NI collectively want to leave the UK. No such evidence of that and even the nationalists and republican voters do not fully share that view. I was reminded of a poll several years ago, where some 17% of nationalists and republicans would not vote to join a united Ireland. I suspect people would much prefer a independent NI, not union with the South. And what do you propose to do with the million people that do not want a union with the south? Do you really think you can force them into such a union, given the recent history of bloodshed here. No, it requires much more imaginative solutions, not the small minded propaganda from Sein Fein supporters.
Unfortunately not. For defence reasons.
The UK will have to pay what it pays annually to Nl to a United Ireland for 25/50 years as a part of a settlement/reperations plus pay any unionist people the cost of relocating to UK if they felt they could no longer live in a Ul
Most if not all making comments about NI, never saw it during the 70s or 80s and have no idea what it was like back then in the 6 counties,i was there so i know what it was really like then,I crossed that border regularly as a teen ,going to disco,s. N pubs n visiting friends ,n shopping and i used to stay at an old farm house there some weekends, outside emniskillen,near the border,with cavan,
Its difficult to know what you mean re your comment?
Relating to your experience back then re Northern Ireland, you haven't said what's your preferred option now.
Just hope and pray that all the people in north and south Ireland give peace a chance and don’t blame the British people anymore their a lot of people in England that have very fond memories and Irish friends how are married English people and Irish family’s have been together for years 🙏
Just an FYI, if you ever hear an Irishman say the "f@cking brits" or "the brits are at it again" its in relation to your government and ruling class; certainly not the actually British people. Personally, I'm yet to meet a British person I don't like.
I disagree with Geoff (not sure who he is or credentials) that a united Ireland wouldn't work. It would work extremely well and I dislike the idea unionists have proposed now to save or salvage something politically with ideas such as joint authority, re-partition, boycott of Stormont which ironically republicans used to do as it was a unionist creation 😂
And when the bombs start going off because one marganalised community feels oppressed by the rest of Ireland - still the body bags wouldnt be coming back to the UK this time so why should I worry.
@@Willywin that “marginalised community “ you refer to would have to respect democracy if the people of Ireland voted for unity, and besides they wouldn’t have the UDR and the British military to run to or collude with like they did in the past!
@@Willywin Why would anyone feel marginalised in an agreed new Ireland??
@@taintabird23 I too cannot imagine why the Loyalist Community would feel marginalised having to be ruled from a foreign Paliament that their ancestors fought to be free of - I cannot imagine why tey even want to March in July lol. You clearly have no idea of the communal sectarian differences in N Ireland and so shouldnt really comment, it just shows ignorence - blissful ignorance granted, but still ignorence.
@@anniegrath1417 You mean like the republican community respected democracy and didnt bomb and maim and kill - that sort of respect? But are you saying the Loyalist community wouldnt have the support of terrorist sympathisers like Gaddafi gave to the Irish Republican terrorists, you know to plant bombs on busses with children and families and in pubs and shopping centres...
I've news for you, the Loyalist community never did have that kind of support from the type of friends the Republican community had, there a big difference between civil disobedience that would make rule from Dublin impossible - and the murder carried out by the IRA and its supporters.
How aboot a Free and United Ireland?
The fact is that improving community relations and working to eliminate sectarianism within Northern Ireland is more important than manipulating the constitutional arrangements. That has been true throughout the dreadful conflict of the troubles, is still true now as criminal gangs thrive and will continue in the future. The welcome rise of the Alliance Party is the only hope on the horizon.
whateer
Ye mean the north of Ireland we will be United
That's a unionist perspective ie supporting the status quo.
@roisinmalone3015 The point I am making is that no matter whether the 6 counties of Northern Ireland are part of the UK or part of a united Ireland they will never thrive as a peaceful and constructive place if sectarianism and community division is undefeated.
@@denisloretto5766 it is never going to end here mo Chara
@@denisloretto5766
Supporting the status quo is a unionist perspective.
My view is that sectarianism and division can't be sorted whilst Northern Ireland is in the UK and it's constitutional status going forward is always uncertain.
Once the island is united, Northern Ireland isn't going back to the UK so the definition of unionism and what it means to have that identity for those North of the border will change as it did in the South post partition.
But I respect that they're are different views re this.
Northern Ireland was never intended to be permanent.
A United Ireland is inevitable.
Genuine politicians from the "British" community should start negotiating now from a position of strength for a new dispensation for NI within a United Ireland.
Evil view about a nation
@@joprocter4573 Which "nation"?
@@fintonmainz7845 it was a divorce. It was growing new space new mixed heritage country
@@joprocter4573 It was imposed by British military force. It was not a democratic decision. There was no marriage. Are your legs married to your arse?
@@joprocter4573failed state but ay pal
2:34 "Can we examine what objections have the DUP up until now?"
"NO, NEVERRR, NO, NEVERRR"
Same thing if France reunion offered with British we wouldn't accept.. We have our own identidy
I have no idea what you are talking about. @@joprocter4573
Ah United Ireland but let the onions keep thur UK passports n sign on in UK benefits offices , which would be kept in place in the onion areas , wits wrong wi that
Ireland would need to have control of all the ports to stop the uvs bringing drugs onto the island
🇮🇪
Now, what would happen if Scotland wants to use the Windsor framework to demand to have the same deal?
Hmm, seems you never answer any questions on topic. Seems you are just a mouthpiece.
Seeing as they entered the "Union" voluntarily, are not allowed to leave and we're not annexed from Ireland, I would guess England would tell them to stfu
Is Geoff Martin from NI? Sounds from his accent he is.
Yes he is.
Northern Ireland not better than during the troubles. We are still segregated by the British by religion. British need to leave for that to change.
No you are inaccurate.. The fact that catholics lead PARRELL life by pre selecting aphreid faith schools at all taxpayers expense is why there is division.. These kids never stood a chance to make up own mind but we're groomed n indoctrinated to hate by association of only ppl they mixed with in every aspect... So it is a shock when come out of school to find oh there's ppl out here not agreeing with their view.. Republicanism
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
@@svenvandevelde1 because you don't read up on it. It's more complicated than that. Religeon is the team but not all ppl follow
Claire any segregation is own made. You select aphreid education which indoctrinate and groom you by the process never to intergrate with equal citizens who after near thousand yrs you still call foreigners. End aphreid all faith schools. Only state schools.
@@svenvandevelde1 we do not say its England. Northern Ireland is a UK domain. Dutch gave us a prince that married our Queen.. Hense orange culture. Religeous European extermination of protestants causing REFUGUEES to flee to protestant ruled countries. Ireland n today's UK were freedom to these REFUGUEES many who came from Belgium and holland. Take your responsibility in history.
Upon Ireland wanting independence there was no home for protestants. By that time 40thusand were ethnically cleansed in Ireland so imagine the confidence living in that 26 County state so as mainly protestant of Irish, Scots, English, Welsh, Belgium, holland, France, Germany etc well diluted by this time took refuge in northern Ireland. Imagine a divorce irreconcilable due to protestant faith and culture!? They became proud ulster ppl later Simply northern Irish. Look up heugonots. Look up first ppl as Ireland is land erosion of UK coastal and that's why ppl are mixed heritage. Scots. English. welsh. Ireland was never heard of as it was Scotti until iberian pirates raided n travellers came changing that so who invaded who???
Think of society held so screw ball tight by their church they refuse yes in NI to intergrate with rest of population creating division and arrive at adult hood never speaking to a protestant!! They will never dilute terrorist vote because streaming this way holds flock in position for all things politically.. Fool to think while none attend state school this is ever going to alter. Triple funded by old groups politically abroad USA namely. Palestinian movements. Cuban.,basque protest nations even when nought worth arguing about. End faith schools ends triple funds from dubious sources teach kids together. Now that would be a real good friday
The man has missed the mark. In 10 years, there will be a large Nationalist majority in Northern Ireland, and if Brexit goes poorly as it is, this may lead to a border poll that sees Northern Ireland voting to join the South. The demographics are shifting rapidly.
An element missing from Geoff Martin's otherwise perceptive analysis is the rise of the Alliance Party - reflecting the growing cohort of NI citizens who are largely neutral on the Union but desperately anxious to get on with tackling the serious social and economic problems facing the province. In many ways they are the only hope.
most of them are coming in from outside Northern Ireland
Define "survive"?
DUP out of step, as ever
Ironic
An Indian who comes to the UK can call themselves British or Indian, same for an Aussie, Pakistani or African. Why do NI need to have a formal arrangement to be under the crown to call themselves British.
You will find in the case of India there are formal arrangements that allow people from your country to come to the uk. The good Friday agreement states that I as an Irishman can class myself as Irish or British or both, but under British law I am classed as British. So my Irishness Is diminished as is your claim to be British. If British law doesn't protect Britishness in the event of a United Ireland then it will be diminished
@edwardandrews4087 who gives a shit if some diplomatic lines make you "feel" more or less British? Is this how we're drawing out international borders? Is this what the whole argument is about? How about people in NI start talking about the economics of their position rather than the endless identity politics that have poisoned the discourse in NI for a century.
@@Keeks749
Northern Ireland is a manufactured Sectarian statelet by Britain when the island of Ireland was partitioned against the wishes of the vast majority of the Irish people.
Partition damages Ireland, politically economically and emotionally.
Northern Ireland only exists because Britain occupied Ireland and colonised it, creating a policy of plantations, ie dispossessing the Irish of their land and resources and putting planters loyal to the crown and Britain on the land instead.
That planter majority re Northern Ireland will be gone as a majority of voting age within ten years and so too will the Sectarian statelet of Northern Ireland be gone.
Northern Ireland will survive Brexit as long as the Windsor framework is in place. It might even survive a new Ireland. But the one thing that hasn't changed in 100 years is the lack of democracy. The democracy in the good Friday agreement was good enough for our generation but the next generation will seek to change it. Northern Ireland can't survive a lack of democracy
The Windsor Framework is saving NI. Hilarious.
The EU needs to save itself with the inflation rates in many of it's countries
Ni has the best of both worlds and will prosper greatly being in the uk and with a land border with eu. Ideal situation..
Unlike the uk
The uk will get rid of the north
@@richardbrown6163 Food inflation, April 2023 was as follows:
UK 19.3%
France 14.5%
Germany 14.9%
General inflation, June 2023
Eurozone 5.5%
UK 8.7% (highest in the G7).
I don't there will be a UI anytime soon. It could retrigger the troubles and there is literally no place or welcome for unionists in Ireland.
There are currently more than 300,000 British nationals living peacefully in Republic of Ireland. 13.8% of the total population are non-nationals - Ireland is a vibrant, modern European country. I think we could manage reunification and welcome those who identify as British into a re imagined new Ireland. 😃
What makes him think a reunification referendum would be advisory?
Wow. Frank not understanding some basic constitutional law.
@@Jj-ff9vq What makes him think a reunification referendum would be advisory?
@@frankoneill5675 😂😂 get an education Franklin it will help you when you grow up and get a job.
@@Jj-ff9vqinstead of your childish replies to a rather important question you could have answered it if you are so knowledgeable.
Read this: "if both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland voted in favour of reunification, the Good Friday Agreement states that it “will be a binding obligation on both governments to introduce and support in their respective parliaments legislation to give effect to that wish”."
Since it will be a constitutional change, Ireland will later need to have a 2nd referendum after all the negotiating and paperwork is done.
Don't know about the situation in NI, but if everything there is based on the 18th century Westminster system probably the janitor can sign off on it while the pm is in hiding somewhere.
@@ab-ym3bfconstitutional changes require a confirmatory referendum? That's news to me! (and yes I am referencing Brexit here)
The big problem for a United Ireland is that the Unionists will not promote a United Ireland although they seem to be doing their best to actually promote it & Sinn Fein doesn't want to promote now good Ireland is doing under the FF/FG Government, as Geoff pointed out, while SF is in the opposition benches ranting and raving about RTE payments or a public Irish Government Forum on the poor state of the Irish Defence Forces. They had to drop the Social Housing crisis issue as it turned out that 25,000 tax-payer paid houses were given away for FREE in 2021/22 to entitled SF voters with 5,000 refused on grounds like it was too close to her ex or there was no parking for the tax-payer paid FREE car.
Any referendum on unification isn't advisory, it is legally binding referendum unlike the Brexit referendum...
Is it Norhern Ironed 30 year???? Think 1690
Here we have another conservative telling us thicko's where its all went wrong ... the thicko's lap it up and things only worsen
Geoff Martin would be traditional Labour leaning.
Little can be achieved unless those voting call the shots. unfortunately the DUP seem little interested in trade and much in power
I find it hard to see a solution
I really appreciate the Fed Trust, and feel informed and supported by these excellent interviews thank you - but I wonder why it’s « talking heads » appear to be exclusively masculine? As a woke remainer this bothers me …
Good question!
Where do they get this twaddle? Same old British response as if the Unionist's opinion was all that mattered. Too late now, the train has already left the station. It's not a matter of "if" but rather "when".The English taxpayer no longer wants to be stuck with subsidizing NI. If they want to set up a fund to repatriate those Brits who want to go to the "mainland", sign me up. I'll be happy to make a contribution.
Irish both northern Ireland and Republic citizens are heavily populated throughout uk.. Why has this imbecile of a man got such voice on NI..
3 YRS TO BE FAIR WAS WHAT IRA SINN FEIN TOOK OUT BEFORE DOCKING MLA..
BREXIT MUST BE EQUAL TO REST OF UK..
Racist bckward
I dont understand why the NI make such an issue of being protestant or Christian. Who cares. Belgians are Christian. Many Dutch are protestant. We are friends and being at war would be unthinkable. Why this Britain stupidities. It's Ireland. Not England. Silly.
Republicans never did. We had protistant founders leaders members ,
It's was a conflict over who rules over northern ireland the Catholics were the indigious irish the protatants were British it was never a religious conflict
You got no idea
@@_alienbloodincorrect
Father of republicanism wolfe tone , robert emmet , rodger casement , erskine childers , just a few republican protistants , its about freedom unity equality not faith . Our protistant pop live fine orange men even in dublin ask them . We dont care what god you pray to as long as its in unity and natural boundrys .
Surviving EU is more important
northern ireland will wake up in time and see the dictators
Can any cvnt survive the brexit
lol
No
The sorry state of affairs known as the Northern Irish politics is carved up by 2 Nationalists parties. 1 Party wants a British nation the other an Irish nation, but the reality is no one who they think wants actually does want them! The sorry state of affairs to has away to many politicians who are simply unfit to Govern. The state know has Northern Ireland seems to have a chance to grasp an opportunity to have the highest GDP per population than any part of Western Europe. Even the exist boycott by the DUP could have been out maneuvered hours after the DUP refusing to take there seats. If Alliance could have aligned for the sake of the Stormont Assembly Unionist, flexing there dynamic. This would be a win/win for both the DUP and everyone else. The DUP could have headed into opposition, by nature opposition being the pulse anyway. The foreign investment with a UK / EU market access would have raised the standard of living and household income. A rising tide floats all boats.
Ireland absolutely does want the North back. We just don't want your freeloaders anymore.
Unionists are not a nationalist party.
May's deal had a get out clause, nothing is agreed until everything is agree. The DUP rhymed it like a Limerick rat until the Irish caught on and had it removed
Breed or perish
Too late , enough nationalists born already just to turn voting age then is slàn
Sunak and conservatives wont
Is independent ni unworkable.
That would be fine by me
If oil was found we would be rich
People think a United Ireland will happen without a conflict wrong the IRA fought against British rule the Ulstermen will fight against Irish rule only a new conflict will come from United Ireland that's inevitable more pain an suffering.
I doubt it not if they’re getting rich from their access to the Single Market and the twenty first century. They’ll be in the pub.
False. A UI will only come about on the back of a border poll. It’d be a very bad look to start conflict because you don’t like a democratic outcome
Irish people fought back against centuries of British state violence, government policy! You can't compare the privilege position of Ulster unionists.
Unfortunately, some things will never change ,sadly , nothing but hatred towards each other , spurred on by certain politicians in the year 2023 , its unbelievable
Sept 11th had a profound impact on support (including finance ) from the USA - Irish diaspora & political sphere. Politics was the only route left for those with aspirations for a united Ireland. On the Unionist side - there will be no tacit State sponsorship for loyalist terrorists (this time around).
A renewed campaign by either side will suffocate without such support. There is little appetite to return to The Trouble 2.0
"brexit means brexit" 🎉
EU must sign off out of NORTHERN Ireland.
No one cares about Northern Ireland my dear. It’s across a whole body of water. And it’s a bit of a sh*thole from what I’ve seen
@@ffi1001
What you have heard. You heard wrong. Plenty of shitholes in England I have been there many times know from experience not like you. Know where I pefare to live..
British has already "signed off" Northern Ireland.
They're just counting the days until they are rid.
DUP support stays solid. Getting comment from an EU apologist who insults the DUP doesn’t do much for the credibility of your channel.
Nawww
Solid? How do you reckon that with a Sinn Fein first minister?
The DUP trusted the English on Brexit and it blew up in their face. I never understand how they don't realise what the Brits think of the Irish. They don't care. We are all just "Mick Paddies" to them. Doesn't matter if you're from north or south of the border - most Brits don't even know where the border is!! Irish people know.
Solid - but shrinking in relevance. People are awakening to the importance of food, shelter and security for themselves and their families as more relevant than any ideology - there is little nutritional value in hating your neighbour. I long for the day when politicians in the six counties are elected because they are honest, effective and decent human beings rather than which version of God they purport to support.
The Alliance Party have eaten their lunch
DUP is an archaic and ridiculous organisation. It's a joke in Britain and a joke in Ireland
Yes if we have a British backbone in government
British and backbone , ah contradiction in terms ah think you’ll find , you’re welcome 👮🏻♂️
A remarkably well informed, balanced discussion for UA-cam about Northern Ireland, with only a slight hint of gas-lighting being swallowed by the contributor. The martens centre, an EU think tank, were the first ones to put this proposal forward in 2020, in their article "doesn’t an independent northern Ireland deserve chance". The only portion this gentleman was too polite to quote was the qualifying statement made at the end of the article about loyalist involvement, in which the article pointed out "It would protect them against their fear of being subsumed against their will into a united Ireland. A fear that remains blissfully ignored by Dublin". This is the reason his proposal about Dublin and London oversight of an Independent Northern wouldn’t work. The Loyalists and non-aligned don’t trust Dublin, the Republicans actively hate London and trust Dublin only a little more. A secular, democratic, Independent Northern Ireland has massive potential to be really successful, but London, Dublin and crown involvement in an Independent Northern Ireland are non-starters, their help and support yes, democratic involvement no. The main problem with achieving Independence is that loyalists will assume independence is a proxy for tricking them into a united Ireland as Republican proxy political party’s cloaked in moderate politics already exist in Northern Ireland.
"doesn’t an independent northern Ireland deserve chance"?
Northern Ireland(NI) CANNOT become an independent state, because there is NO SUCH legal option available to it.
NI's constitutional status is defined in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. That status is binary; as long as a majority of its voters wish to maintain the status quo, NI will continue to be a constituent part of the UK. IF a majority of its voters decide to change their constitutional status, NI becomes part of united Ireland.
Another reason why NI CANNOT become independent is because it has a deficit of 27% of GNP. Any attempt to go downtime independence route would simply result in economic collapse.
A third reason why NI could NOT function as an independent state is because any attempt to become independent would would almost certainly be voted down by the Catholic/Nationalist/Republican(CNR) majority.
If the PUL establishment tried to go for a unilateral declaration of independence,, that would either trigger a restart of 'The Troubles' by the CNR majority, or simply petitions by the CNR majorities in four of the Six Counties to merge with Ireland. Derry, Fermanagh, Armagh and Tyrone are all majority CNR counties.
While the Protestant/Unionist/Loyalist(PUL) demographic are still a majority of the population of Down and Antrim, Belfast is now a CNR majority city, while the Glens of Antrim are also majority-CNR.
Independence is not an option for NI, either constitutionally, politically, or economically.
Split NI into 6 parts🎉
Handover to RoI one by one🎉
Over the span of 18 years🎉
Your comment means you know nothing about Ireland.
@@roseanne9986 It's a bot. It posts all over the place, exact same post, never replies
@@frankoneill5675 Thanks. Saw this post on different channels.
@@roseanne9986I mean idk in paper it makes sense instead of all it once flinging everything back into a united Ireland phase it in over time every 3 years add a new piece and within 20 years its done
@@kurtpunchesthings2411 Read the good friday agreement.
Geoff Martin is clearly not a unionist and clearly anti-brexit, why are we listening to his biased unrealistic views. Does he not know that the DUP is but the voice of unionism and most demand the DUP stays strong in it's position.
Unionism is a declining factor in NI politics
@@Evemeister12 No, unionism is the very core of NI politics
The voice of unionism 😂 maybe in a tiny part of the union
@@indogoUI Glad you agree that the DUP is indeed the voice of unionism within this part of the UK>
@@asanulsterman1025 Yes a minority
Chatting Shite
Red Lane / Green Lane Trusted Trader and more data sharing is huge steps towards the EUs own authored Smart Border 2.0
With regulatory alignment on goods the Protocol can be effectively cast into the bin, Smart Border 2.0 will have been implemented and the Belfast Agreement remain protected.
The Protocol cannot be cast in the bin. It has been signed into UK, EU and international law. You are fighting in your head a battle that has already been lost.
So far I have explained this to you twice in the last few days. Karlsson's Smart Border 2.0 requires infrastructure at the border, which is precisely why it was cast in the bin by all sides,. Customs staff and infrastructure carry out multiple operations, not just controlling goods.
@@frankoneill5675 not when the red lane/green lane with trusted trader and data sharing (please share emerging data Frankie as you will have this on % of red lane traffic) is combined with regulatory alignment for UK products being exported to the EU under the TCA.
@@Jj-ff9vq How does that prevent smuggling across the 310 border crossings in the land border?
@@frankoneill5675 smuggling became a problem in England in the 13thC....thats how old smuggling is Frankie babe. No system on Earth can prevent it, as you think, you're deluded. How do the Irish completely stop smugglers of guns, drugs and tobacco?
@@Jj-ff9vq How would Smart Border 2.0, without infrastructure, as you claim - although Lars Karlsson, its inventor, outlines clearly the multiple kinds of infrastructure it would need - prevent smuggling across the 310 land border crossings?