Comments on: McGuinness in Irish unity poll call

By: Sinn Féin plans next moves towards Irish unity | Left Foot Forward

Sinn Féin plans next moves towards Irish unity | Left Foot Forward — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:01:33 +0000

[…] event follows a call last week from Martin McGuinness for a referendum on Irish unity sometime after […]

By: Keith Ruffles

Keith Ruffles — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

This is all based, of course, on the assumption that all Catholics are Nationalists and all Protestants are Unionists and that there are no other religions – or lack of them – in Northern Ireland at all.

The truth is the political landscape in Northern Ireland is far more diverse than this.

I’m also slightly uneasy with the fact that this potential constitutional change – if it happens – is likely to because of demographic change and the assumption that cultural ‘Irishness’ is incompatible with potical ‘Britishness’ – even though we assume without too much question the possibility of being English and British, Welsh and British etc. Politics based purely on ethno-cultural identity is never an appetising prospect and those on the left should be aware of this.

By: Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:48:00 +0000

‘What is described as the United Kingdom’ At least Salmond’s digs at the UK are subtle.

By: Mr. Sensible

Mr. Sensible — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:28:00 +0000

I can’t see this being reopened after the troubles…

By: Antonio Domínguez

Antonio Domínguez — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:00:58 +0000

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister wants self-determination referendum in 2016: United Ireland or the UK? http://t.co/1LoGjliZ

By: Filipe S. Henriques

Filipe S. Henriques — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:31:05 +0000

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister wants self-determination referendum in 2016: United Ireland or the UK? http://t.co/1LoGjliZ

By: Mark Meredith

Mark Meredith — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:21:26 +0000

McGuinness in Irish unity poll call, writes @kevinpmeagher: http://t.co/GzfMB0uo #NIreferendum

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:20:00 +0000

Good. Northern Ireland is a massive money sink, I’d be happy to let Dubliners pay for it rather than Londoners. Although with the state of the Irish economy, they might have other things on their mind. Perhaps the North will have to learn to live without subsidies?

By: Ruairi Geraghty

Ruairi Geraghty — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:02:00 +0000

I assume an Irish unity referendum would have to include voters in the Republic and I would not be certain that it would pass

By: Kevin

Kevin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:54:00 +0000

In reply to Selohesra. Any evidence of any demand for that?