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A DEAL TO restore Stormont power-sharing has created a “beachhead” to advance the debate toward a united Ireland, a Sinn Féin minister has said.
Declan Kearney, a newly appointed junior minister in the executive, said the institutions would work as an “engine” for moving to constitutional change.
But the DUP has insisted it will not tolerate any moves toward reunification and has characterised the deal as good for Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.
Mr Kearney, Sinn Féin’s national chairman, said he was confident a return to power-sharing would create the circumstances to deliver Irish unity.
He told RTE’s The Week In Politics: “I see it as an opportunity now to not only ensure that these institutions work in the interests of all sections of society and firmly on the basis of rights, equality and integrity but we have now got a landmark opportunity, a beachhead with which to advance the debate on constitutional change in the island and to take this as an engine for moving forward towards Irish unity and I am very confident that we have the circumstances to achieve that.”
DUP economy minister Diane Dodds disagreed with Kearney’s interpretation and insisted people were more interested in bread and butter issues.
“Arlene Foster (DUP First Minister) said yesterday in her speech that she will probably never agree with (Sinn Féin deputy First Minister) Michelle O’Neill’s interpretation of the past and we will certainly not agree with any moves toward a united Ireland,” she told the same programm.
“But what people in Northern Ireland are demanding, no matter what tradition they come from, is that we actually work together to deliver on their priorities.
“And their priorities are education, they are health, they are growing the economy, they are providing jobs, they are providing training and that is the most important thing to people in Northern Ireland.”
Power-sharing returned to Northern Ireland after the DUP and Sinn Fein, the region’s two largest parties, agreed to re-enter a mandatory coalition ministerial executive.
Ministers were appointed on yesterday as Assembly business resumed at Parliament Buildings.
All five of the main parties have entered the executive after endorsing a deal, tabled by the UK and Irish governments, that offered compromise resolutions to a range of long-standing disputes on issues such as the Irish language.
The “New Decade, New Approach” deal is accompanied by what the UK government has promised will be a major investment package.
Government funding is set to help tackle a host of acute problems facing a public sector that has been floundering amid the governance vacuum.
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Time to remove the artificial British border on Irish soil…
@The Risen: are you a member of the Wolfe tones? Your comments often read like their lyrics.
@alan: beautiful compliment.
@alan: Up the Risen!
@The Risen:
That’s just childish jingoism.The geographical island of Ireland has 2 countries: Ireland and the UK. The “border” is an incidental line that is the boundary of those 2 countries. It does not have a nationality. It is neither British nor Irish. You cannot explicitly remove a border.
Northern Ireland is an integral part of the UK. That is internationally recognised and democratically voted for by the people of both Ireland and Northern Ireland. It will remain so unless the people of Northern Ireland wish to leave it. Until that happens the line dividing the two countries will remain.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: your some craic at parties I’d say.
@Dermot Foley: you’re
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: The Risen’s comment is perfectly accurate. In 1918 the majority of people on the island of Ireland voted for home rule. That majority was ignored. The border that was imposed on our island after was imposed by Britain against the will of that majority. It is a British imposed border. What makes you dislike your own people and their justified aspirations for reunification so much? Genuine question.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Sketch, Buzz Killington is here!
@Conan Campbell: I have no problem with anyone’s aspiration to potential political unity on the island of Ireland, and I have no problem with anyone in Northern Ireland with aspirations to remain part of the UK. I do have a major problem with people who want to drag Ireland into political and economic chaos just to get one over on the unionists.
The 1918 vote has no relevance. It is null and void. It was made 102 years ago in a country that no longer exist. The 1998 GFA vote is relevant and is the democratic will of the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Do you dispute the will of the Irish people?
Your question is obviously not genuine. You clearly do not have the desire or ability to intelligently discuss this issue on factual information.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: ireland is one country.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: It isn’t about getting one over on Unionism. It’s about righting a great wrong. I mention the election of 1918 because a British border (remember the discussion) was created by the British in Ireland against the wishes of the majority of the island as witnessed in the election result immediately preceding the creation of that border. Please keep up. You’re very selective asking if I respect the outcome of the referendum on the GFA when you clearly don’t respect the outcome of the earlier 1918 election. Honestly, Irish people like you make me cringe.
@Conan Campbell: The outcome of the 1918 election has no validity and no basis in law of any description. The country in which the vote took place no longer exists.
You need to come back into the real world. This is 2020. Not 1918.
@Daniel Roche: One of many.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Again, I focussed on 1918 because the discussion was about the origins of the British border in Ireland.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: lets get this right – anyone who has a desire towards calling for a border poll and by extension a united Ireland are only really interested in getting one over on unionists? heard it all now.
as a previous poster said – you must be a great laugh at party’s.
what about people of a unionist background who in recent times have expressed an interest in exploring the possibility of supporting a UI if a border poll is presented in the future. Who do you think they might be trying to get one over on? Boris, perhaps?
@Conan Campbell: The border was created prob firstly from the Ulster covenant which cannot be really ignored. Up north there was zero support for any home rule in general. Was a big overall majority of unionist at the time. The initial home rule talks proposed by the British government led to almost civil war then talks agreed to two areas of home rule unionists feared the Catholic Church would have to much influence (ironically true for future Republic) world war 1 hit and then war of independence came and that pretty much really made the border more concrete.
@Angela McCarthy:
lets get this right, I said nothing of the sort.
Like most Irish people I would like to see a political structure that brings permanent and lasting peace on the island. Be that a federal structure or a single cohesive state, or whatever.
I strongly object to people who want to drag unionists into a “united Ireland” whether they like it or not. There are many who post here with that view. I believe it is short sighted and dangerous to the peace and economic stability of this country and of Northern Ireland.
The status of Northern Ireland is the business of the people of Northern Ireland it is highly insulting to be preempting their decision in a poll that may not take place for years, if ever. Don’t kid yourself that this will be decided on so called nationalist and unionist lines. It will be decided in the main on economics.
“as a previous poster said – you must be a great laugh at party’s.”
I know it is unusual to see someone commenting seriously on Northern Ireland, but its not a joke or a laugh. I don’t know what age you are but remember the troubles well. They were not nice times. I knew people who were killed. I never want to see that again.
@Niall Carry: I know the history. How can the Ulster Covenant create a border. What you meant to say was the pressure put on the British government by the signing of the covenant put the idea of a border on the agenda. Ireland had one Parliament at the time. The majority was nationalist. Regardless of a high proportion of unionists anywhere on the island, why wasn’t the majority respected. Why didn’t majority rule then? Why was the threat of violence from unionists then an acceptable reason to appease them and split the country. Look at it in today’s terms – Why isn’t Derry allowed to split from the north? Sure most of them are nationalist.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: You left out one critical consideration . . the citizens of Ireland might not want Unity and therefore the North on its own just deciding it wanted unity is not enough in itself.
@Daniel Roche:
And Northern Ireland is another one.
@Conan Campbell: When did Derry express a desire to separate from the North?
@Gino Brancato: Absolutely correct. But before there is any discussion or referendum in Ireland regarding some form of all island political union, Northern Ireland must vote in favour of leaving the UK.
@Conan Campbell: you can look at it from different angles but if world war 1 didn’t happen it would have been a bloodbath far worse than our independence and civil war and the troubles combined. Likely ethnic cleansing would have ensued and a very bad stain on our history. We were under the control of worlds biggest super power so democracy did not exist as you perceive it. It was 100 yrs ago still in a time of colonial powers Churchill could barely control the unionists that were ready to go against his wishes. Threat of violence was used as did the republican side. Like I wish we had a united Ireland and lived happily ever after but there was people on this island with 400 yrs of history not wanting to be part of that and war ready eventually the brits would have to side with.
The DUP are desperate to maintain the divisions in the community because without sectarianism there is no logical reason why anyone would want to remain part of the UK at this point.
@Sean Fahey: The cost is the only think that is prohibitive. 25 to 30 billion for at least 10 years or more. Northern Ireland economy needs a good bit of investment as well. So the investment divide may happen also. Would be great, but an island of 6.5 million people with new rules on investment and tax structure in the pipeline from OECD. Our tax rate may soon evade us as well.
The DUP really need to come out of the dark ages and move forward,
@Mick Hannigan: I really hope they do or we’ll see another civil war in our lifetime if the North sleepwalks into a United Ireland. The fleg morons will literally up in arms.
I think it needs to be done the way they did Honk Kong.. i.e. agree a date 50 years in the future for the handover so the next two generations can get used to the idea and it won’t be an all out war. The HK handover was very peaceful for that reason. (Before anyone says it: The reason they’re rioting now is irrelevant. HK’s handover is a good case study.)
@SouperArlene: You do realise bitter loyalists pass down their bitterness to their children? So whether it’s in 2021 or 2071, there will still be the same problems. Also, wasn’t the HK agreement because the British had leased it from China for a certain length of time? The north will reunite when the majority want that, whether that’s next year or in 10 years. Personally speaking, I believe it will all be done and dusted by 2030.
@Mick Hannigan: Yes they do, and maybe they are about to do so, that is in regard to keep the Executive running smoothly and delivering services for the people of NI. Arlene said that Lessons were Learned, well SF need to try and see the Bigger Picture too, — delivery of good Government . Starting straight away about a United Ireland?, well there is plenty of time for that. Anyway, a poll for United Ireland would be lost at this point in time.
@Eugene Comaskey: THe campaign for a united Ireland began the day it was partitioned – 100 years ago and to suggest it can indefinitely be suspended for another 100 is pure fantasy because unionists will have a blank cheque for all time to remain without an incentive to change. Not good foundations for long-term peace, justice and democracy.
what a border will do is to exercise minds and encourage unionists to plan and work for the best deal they can in the new future Ireland – some are already doing that. Yes – the poll shouldn’t happen today or tomorrow, but the responsible thing to do for everyone’s sake is declare a start date for the inevitable negotiations that will have to happen in the lead up to a poll date.
@Mick Hannigan: there is no doubt the DUP is bordering on medieval in evolutionary terms. The main obstacle to their moving forward is the existence of a large number of hate filled sectarian people who like to term themselves as “Republicans”. These “Republicans” show nothing but contempt and bad will towards the people the DUP represents and the idea of this situation existing in the context of a United Ireland is just not going to be contemplated for a minute by the DUP’s followers.
@Mick Hannigan: As should the extreme greens
@Ebeneezer Goode: The North cannot unite just because a majority there may be in favour. There is the minor matter of the citizens of Ireland agreeing to unity. I would not take that agreement for granted.
@Angela McCarthy: obviously you are not from a Border County, you do not know much about the complexity of Unionism never mind Loyalism. They are a different breed and 3/4 of them will never accept rule from Dublin. And on the other hand, how could anyone manage 1/2 of the other crowd. We have enough of our own troubles down here.
They assume the ROI electorate would vote for a united Ireland. This is far from certain especially with SF vote in the republic on the spiral downwards.
@Lar: I think I can say with a fair amount of certainty that a united ireland would be overwhelmingly accepted (60%+) by the Irish electorate every single day of the week and twice on Sunday.
@Sean Fahey: I disagree. Some of us fear it.
@Lar: 75% last time they were asked.
@Lar: The next election will tell us everything. SF back in power in the north. They won a recent by-election. FG being found out by a wider audience as being more in step with a foreign power than our own people. All to play for!
@Mjhint: Some, but not the majority. All the scaremongering would not come to pass, the Brits wouldn’t pull out over night, there would be a transition period and a financial package, a new constitution and an inclusive and prosperous community for all, the north would no longer be the forgotten corner of the empire but be embraced by a modern, successful and progressive society. It would be a beautiful thing. I welcome unionists to the table any time.
@Sean Fahey: here here
@Sean Fahey: great post. Careful Lucy doesn’t call you a unionist for your opinion.
@Sean Fahey: why can the north not just do this anyway. Why does it need a United ireland to achieve this.
@Sean Fahey: I’m glad you welcome unionists which I applaud but a successful progressive society and a suggestion the Brits wouldn’t pull the plug seem somewhat opportunistic at best. The current UK political environment is one of impulse and uncertainty & we as an independent nation have yet to prove to ourselves we are capable of logical reasoned thinking which would help us run the whole island successfully while creating a secure acceptable nation for both sides of a sectarian conflict. All that to worry about & then pay for it. I admire your enthusiasm but to be mature as a nation we must discuss the difficulties as much as the possibilities.
@Lar: I agree with you. I certainly not be voting for united Ireland. We can’t even run 26. Better solution is give its own status of state
@Lar: do you always do stand-up comedy online?
@Angela McCarthy: No. But he is good at facts!
@alan: for those who understand – no explanation is necessary and for those who don’t understand – no explanation is possible.
well there is really alan, but have you got a few days? the north as you call it are actual people – Irish people -some with allegiance to Britain. How many unionists reading these posts do you think would be impressed by some of the snide selfish remarks by people from the south saying they didn’t want a united Ireland bla bla bla. If you were a unionist studying the merits of a future all-Ireland settlement – would you be rushing out to vote Yes in a border poll?
on the other side – you also have people on here who say they want to unite with the north, but all they seem to want to say on here is how wicked and backward Arlene and the DUP are. the people of the north don’t need to read all that crap as they have to live with the DUP.
People from the north – unionist and nationalist would be far more impressed and feel more welcome if they were to read genuine welcoming posts like the earlier one from Sean Fahey!
@Sean Fahey: Well said
@alan: You forget the north is half Irish people who want to reconnect with their fellow country people, families, neighbours. It’s a cultural revolution as well as an economic and peaceful one. You’re another doom merchant. Why can’t you be more supportive of your fellow Irish people.
@Sean Fahey: You have absolutely no way grounds for that viewpoint ,other maybe than wishful thinking.
@Conan Campbell: I never knew that “the north is half Irish people who want to reconnect with their fellow country people,” Where is your evidence for that statement?
@LUCY Thomas: What facts were presented and what arguments and consequences were outlined to the 75% before the vote?
@For Goodness Sake: That should suit Angela, she loves facts, well, her own version of them anyway.
Hard enough to keep this place going. Leave United ireland for some far off future.
@alan: I’d be happy with it in twenty years. I’d be happy with it in thirty years. As long as it’s a possibility.
@alan: The future is now Alan. There will always be some excuse from partitionists about it never being the right time.
@alan: It’s comments like this that demand we start a forum on what a Reunited Ireland would look like. Fear fills the void.
@Conan Campbell: I don’t think anybody is frightened. It’s more a case of not wanting even more market based parties like dup, sf. It’s bad enough already with FG,ff,lab here. Until centre right thinking disappears, all we will ever get, 26 or 32 counties, is more of the same, which clearly isn’t serving us well.
I think a United Ireland could realistically only happen with huge financial support from Britain. The financial drain of the six counties would be too much for the ROI government to account for. (A referendum etc is first obv).
@Dermot Foley: back to the shankill with you.
@Dermot Foley: A United Ireland will not be the financial drain that many predict. The 6 counties will benefit hugely from investment in infrastructure and business. The British government will also have to contribute for a set number of years in the transition phase.
@Dermot Foley: Let’s start the conversation. Let’s piece it together before a border poll. What are FG waiting for.
@Ebeneezer Goode:
Absolute and utter rubbish! Northern Ireland costs the UK £10 billion in subvention payments. If they leave the UK the will still need that money to stay afloatThe reunification of Germany nearly bankrupt one of the richest countries in the world. What hope do we have?
John Fitzgerald and Edgar Morgenroth are 2 highly respected Irish economists who have published an independent study on this. They predict a 5 to 10% cut in the standard of living in Ireland in the event of a united Ireland.
Your comment that there will be a benefit from “investment in infrastructure and business” is just baseless waffle.
@Dermot Foley: or from the EU.
@Conan Campbell: It would be an insult to the population of Northern Ireland, for what is technically a foreign country, to preempt any democratic decision they may make regarding their position in the UK.
How about having a conversation about Northern Ireland remaining in the UK in perpetuity?
@LUCY Thomas: here, wash your mouth out. Shankill indeed. Instead of posting a comment you attack me personally. Good one. Showing your obvious lack of intelligence. A realist is what I am. And a nationalist. So go and do one.
@LUCY Thomas: says the one living in Bristol. Lol.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: The Republic is well within it’s rights to start teasing out the potential changes reunification could have on our governmental structures, economy, social cohesion etc. In fact, if Brexit thought us anything, it would be reckless not to. We would invite Unionism to participate. However, it would be a fluid process, evolving over many years. If Unionism doesn’t participate at the beginning as expected, we would have made great strides in teasing out the detail for when they do join, following their relegation to minority status in the north.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Oh look, it’s my personal stalker with his pretend Irish name and ostentatious waffle.
@Ebeneezer Goode:
Proof positive that you are not a genuine poster. Your only argument is to accuse me of stalking you. That’s a little sad. If you are not able to take robust criticism of what are factually inaccurate political posts, then don’t post them.
My name is my name, and if you have a difficulty understanding English above a 6th class level that is hardly my problem.
@Conan Campbell: As I asked before, should we have discussions around the future of the island based on Northern Ireland remaining in perpetuity within the UK?
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: No outcome can be discussed with an aim of it remaining in perpetuity. But to try and answer your question, No – because unionism accounts for less than one fifth of the island population and one half of the north. It would probably be a complete waste of time due to its extremely unlikely outcome. But let unionism bring it to the table as we discuss the future of our island. We should give it the discussion time it deserves.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: What factually inaccurate posts would these be? Just because you don’t agree doesn’t give you the right to be judge and jury. I’m as entitled to my view as much as you are. There are many arguments for the economic benefit of a United Ireland. There are many against. Having two separate economies on such a small island makes no sense whatsoever.
@Conan Campbell: I disagree. The people of Northern Ireland will decide the future of Northern Ireland. If they ever decide to leave the UK then and only then is the time to see how we create a political union on the island of Ireland. There will be plenty on people who you perceive as “nationalist” will not vote to leave the UK.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: “plenty of people”
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: What you describe us a Brexit scenario. Vote for something, then figure out what you voted for. Having a blueprint in place for a Reunited Ireland is the absolute prudent thing to do, especially as the winds of change are blowing in that direction. Come on, jump on board for the big win!
@Ebeneezer Goode:
Most of what you have posted is factually incorrect and very weak supposition. You are entitled to voice your opinions, that doesn’t mean anyone has to take them seriously. You are clearly unable to defend them against basic criticism.
It’s very telling that when I countered some of your baseless statements with actual facts, your only response is to insult me and call me a stalker.
It is a bit rich you insulting my Irish name when you are posting under “Ebeneezer Goode”
I am not aware on any credible independent economist who have put any coherent arguments for a net financial benefit of a United Ireland. Which is because there aren’t any.
@Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Spot on lad -that’s exactly how it will happen under the terms of the GFA. So can we take it you have no problem with a Border poll so?
United NI first.
Then United Ireland.
The DUP cannot change the demographics of the 6 counties. Either get on board and debate the place of unionism within a united Ireland or be left behind in the dark ages, like your current mentality.
Could this new Junior Minister not give us all a break about the next steps in SFs goal of constitutional change. It is indicative of that parties inability to do what is right today for the people of NI. Just put some hard work into governing and stop this relentless noise about the future. Every time you look back or into the future it always creates contention , it is as if you cannot live in the present. The latter is all we have for the moment !
Sure that would be great. But, we have to respect all traditions and be inclusive, which I think is possible as there is no disferentiation along cultural lines in RoI these days. Disparaging comments don’t help though…
@Damian Moylan: traditions of sectarianism and bigotry and hate is it?
@Paul: traditions of the orange in the Irish flag. Or do you not recognise that part?
@Damian Moylan: A United Ireland must be a welcoming country for those of a Unionist background, including the Orange Order.
I think that both the DUP and Sinn Féin will proceed on the premise that they agree to disagree. And that is okay going forward. However at some time in the future demographically there will be a notional majority in favour of unity with the South. The timing is most important because if a referendum on unity fails in the North then it might not be tested again for a generation.
Now that power-sharing has been restored in NI, let’s hope that the £2bn this triggers from Westminster is put to good use, evenly and fairly, throughout the community and that not too much of it goes up in smoke this time around.
Sinn Fein can bladder on about Irish Unity all they like , they gave to for the optics, but even they must know that Unity is light years away, if ever, Simplistic questions like those inthe poll are worse than useless. Before any referendum on Unity there would have to be clear understandable debates and facts onnthe exact implications on all sorts of issues like constitutional, cost, seat of parliament, parliamentary representation erc etc. It is amazing how people will react when they have to put their hands deep in their pockets .
He might think it creates a beachhead but he should have kept that to himself. Imagine a DUP MLA saying that the Assembly is a beachhead to maintaining the union.
The DUP delivering on the people’s priorities … what a joke, I bloody hate that women
@GDRebel: Hate- not a good word on a forum like this.
So this new beach head is a way back after the SF evacuation from Stormont 3 years ago.
Another SF example of spinning a massive cock up into an imaginary success.
They have only succeeded in exposing themselves, again,as neantherthal nationalists who repeatedly put their flag before people, & left them bereft of representation throughout the Brexit debate.
They might not have made a remain difference, but could have made a democratic impact to bring our country & people forward together on a unified platform, and place this country’s interests before the world & high on the oncoming trade negotiations agenda.
But no, their petty little parochial disputes were more important to them.
@William Kelly: I agree with every word. Only one observation, SInn Fein want to be described as Republican rather than Nationalist because it gives them better street cred with their flag-waving followers. They will however condescend to the Nationalist tag when it comes to the numbers game eg straw polls ,surveys etc on a border poll. Then they are happy to be Pan Nationalists.
have your say