I am just going to be honest, I don’t think there is a single party in Ireland who has the competence or capability to actually implement the unification of this country.
I believe government in Ireland is plagued with corruption, has an unhealthy relationship with the media and is so rife with incompetence that it would be an absolute disaster.
The reason Fine Gael and Fianna Fail pay lip service to unity only, is because beyond that, they haven’t the foggiest notion how to implement it.
Post-brexit, a 6 county separatist block within Ireland even as part of the UK will be an absolute disaster.
It risks peace, it will maintain the division within Ireland, it turns elections into orange and green head counts and that is before we get to the real problems created by the border which will be severely aggravated with an EU customs border between north and south, let alone the trade war on this island which would surely ensue.
If we are being honest, in order to unite this country, we will need the expertise and guiding hand of either England or the EU.
So, the way I see it, we have two options.
Ireland is united and we become part of the UK, leaving the EU and supporting England in developing new trade deals with the rest of the world.
Or, we leave the UK and seek the help of the EU, end the common travel area with GB and trade as part of the EU.
These are the two options which need to go to referendum to the whole of this country.
There are no other viable options and sooner or later we are going to need to face up to that reality.
We may not like it, but those are our choices.
Tranona duit Jessica,
In the first instance, albeit I agree no political party in Ireland wants to undermine their own electoral chances by implementing re-unification, it is not up to political parties here, rather, it is the role of the people, expressed in plebiscite, to determine our future, why else has unionism through their media been so keen to absolve re-unification of any credence?
On corruption here, I agree entirely but, it is just as prevalent globally, the USA, Europe, Africa and Asia. In the western world we condemn other, less developed nations, for this but just manage to hide it better. There again, the RHI list was published on Friday and makes for interesting reading.
I, again, feel you are being too wary of the potential for what is termed a ‘hard border’, we once had one of these, I never recognised it, just another opportunity for harassment by enemies but, last week our Taoiseach, Enda, made a point, which was an out right lie, that border check points had caused our most recent conflict, obviously this idiot did not, during his brief teaching career, teach history, nor learn it either. I just heard Simon McKeever lamenting this potential on RTE, I have to laugh at the recently found concern of them in the Saor Stat to the occupied portion leaving the EU’s occupation.
This fits to your eight paragraph though, I myself would never favour joining the UK, rather though, as a sovereign united Republic, should we not consider re-joining the commonwealth, a body which will soon be redeveloped as a new trading bloc?
Forgive me, that sounds like a scot’s advocate’s third way option but may maintain open trading in a larger bowl.
I find it easier to find benefits for uniting Ireland within the UK, what I struggle with is trusting them. If they could move on legacy and put the past behind us then I think the biggest roadblock for me would be removed.
Granted, legacy issues is a big thing, I’ve been trying myself to get the Police Ombudsman to investigate a murder in 1982, unfortunately my old friend Nula has gone to some other place, her replacement being the proverbial chocolate fireguard, at least for dead nationalists.
Being within a UK though would bring enormous support, I feel, for joining the new Irish Republican Army, all sorts of possibilities, including dead people I fear.
A free Ireland cannot be a reality ’til we are free of European federal union.
Again, Jessica is consistently inconsistent – singing the praises of a polical party in her previous article and now devoid of any such sentiments. How do you seriously expect anyone to take you seriously?!
Your views are farcical.
Donal, I want what is best for Ireland and the Irish people, all of them, including the self employed, the small business owner, even those from the unionist community who want their right to 11th bight bonfires guaranteed. Not ANY political party
But if you are the official spokesperson for Sinn Fein I want nothing to do with them
Jessica,
Everyone who reads your articles doesn’t know what you want. You say you’re a republican and now you’re seriously advocating rejoining the Union. You are an unstable joke as a writer and I seriously don’t know why you even bother to share your views on a blog which is republican, nationalist and left wing in disposition. If you weren’t serious then it would be funny.
Seriously wise up to yourself and find better things to do with your time.
Don’t assume anyone who is a regular on this site is left wing Donal, I am most certainly not, I kinda doubt several others are either, China, the old CCCP Vietnam, even North Korea certainly are not.
I will happily admonish any right to call myself a republican Donal if it meant Ireland could be reunited in peace and the divisions which blights our people removed.
And I am not a writer, I am only a contributor on Jude’s blog. Jude has kindly opened the floor to even light headed misfits such as myself to share their views however rough and unpolished they may be.
The biggest difference between us is that I value the feedback I get from them, you see yourself as better than those who comment and therefore don’t even hear or respect what people say in response.
No Jessica I think you’ll find that I very much take on board what people have to say and articulate their sentiments in what I write as best I can – otherwise, why write?! The reason I don’t respect nor value your “feedback” on what I write is because your views are obscure and consistently inconsistent – which verifies the suspicion of many that you haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. You come across like an ejit who writes according to the most instant gut instincts without any thought going into how it will be perceived, particularly when you have said something totally different previously.
In a nutshell, your thinking is farcical and confused. Are you really in a position to give anyone “feedback” and dictate what economic views they should hold?! Would anyone seriously take your views on board in considering political policies?! You received a risible response to this article for a reason, so maybe you should apply the same scrutiny to yourself as you impose on others.
‘Let’s not lose the run of ourselves’
Whatever about the run of yourself, (which I think you have lost completely) I believe you have probably lost the respect of most people who read and contribute to this blog ..!!
There is an element of truth in what you say Donal.
I write off the top of my head, my views change from one event to the next, same as most individuals in society.
I am not intransigent, if someone reaches out to me, I will reciprocate and change my stance accordingly.
The DUP stance to maintain their hard line attitude no matter what, simply would not work in the nationalist community.
Most nationalists want the border gone and to live in peace in an Ireland we can all have pride in, that will offer opportunities for our children that they can live their lives happily within Ireland. Anything else comes a distant second.
Reaching agreement on that has not been easy because of the conflict and anyone who refuses to change their views in the interest of the above is part of the problem in my view.
I don’t have all the answers no one seems to, and therefore we need to talk about these things more and listen to all views, even those as scatter-brained as mine.
Who are you to decide otherwise?
There is a big difference between pragmatism and totally abandoning previously held policies and values. You don’t appear to stand for anything and that’s why people find it very difficult to comprehend you at all. You’re obscure and it doesn’t come across well, so take that feedback on board.
-decide whether you are on the right or left and stick to it, instead of this back and forth nonsense you keep peddling. It’s boring
I don’t see, Donal, and others have noted this too, why to have to go after Jessica the way you do.
Jessica and I don’t really see eye to eye, certainly not on the future of Ireland, nor the way the word ‘unionist’ is used on this site – but there have been glances of recognition from time to time.
And that is because both of us have been willing to listen and consider an alternative point of view.
Stereotyping one community or another is bad enough (as if only one side was to blame or as if one side is always treated different than another), but such personal comments are not boring, they are unnecessary. If she is as wrong as you say she is, demonstrate it by argument.
If you could get it into your head that I am not peddling anything, that the purpose of my posts is to get people talking and to explore possibilities, not to dictate to others or tell anyone what they should be thinking.
An agreed Ireland means seeking the agreement of the many for the many not what individuals such as yourself decide is in our best interests based on the views of republicans over the past 100 years.
Personally I would rather share this country with loyalists than people like yourself and there would be a greater chance of reaching agreement and accommodation with one another.
I don’t know Peter, perhaps we will never agree on the wrongs of the conflict as we have different experiences.
If we can focus on economic issues and building a better future, I think I would be closer to your thinking than Donals.
Perhaps if legacy can be sorted in these talks with the british state, we can finally find an accommodation we can both be happy with.
In fact, I believe any solution would have to be one you would be comfortable with Peter.
In fact, if that Irish Unionist Party did exist, I would have no issue voting for it
Perhaps Mike Nesbitt could start it up and let the UUP merge into the DUP
Excuse me but I never left any comments before under any of Ms. McGrann’s articles until she started making quite ignorant and uninformed comments under mine, in the guise of “feedback”. So I’m simply applying the same scrutiny to her nonsensical views that she does to others – she doesn’t have a clue what she’s talking about but runs other people’s views down, is that mature?!
Some republican you are Jessica, and you’re really demonstrating your centre-left credentials here with your admiration for the classical liberals. Know what the problem with you is, you haven’t a notion what you stand for. I don’t know why anyone bothers reading your stuff, it’s embarrassing to be honest. So let’s agree not to comment under each other’s writings and leave it there – good luck finding any takers for your ideas, as I’m sure they’ll have changed by tomorrow.
Gee Donal your like a keyboard Crocodile these days! Embarrassing, man!
I don’t mind you commenting on my views at all Donal.
I’m afraid that I could not guarantee if you write something I want to query I wont comment on yours though.
I am a slave to my emotions im afraid.
It sounds more like you want to shut me up than anything else though.
Why don’t you just focus on commenting where it is desired and with people who do want to debate things out with you? It would be a much more sensible use of your time.
Donal play the ball, not the person. No need for the personal hate towards Jessica.
There is no personal hate, I don’t know Jessica at all. I just think her views are inconsistent and farcical and she has admitted that while also trying to lecture people on the “needs of business”. So I don’t want to debate someone who doesn’t appear to know either what they stand for or what they are talking about, it’s simple. The amount of time Jessica spends obsessing over “feedback” is not healthy, surely she can find better things to do and engage with those who actually want her advice.
I don’t think my views are farcical.
I think my request for clarity over your views on capping wages to the average industrial wage and the nationalisation of private businesses are valid concerns.
It is your refusal to discuss them on the very site where you brought them up that speaks volumes.
I’m not answerable to you and don’t have to clarify anything for your approval. I’ve already explained my reasoning behind the average working wage, so find better things to do with your time and more important issues to focus on.
No Jessica I just don’t want to engage with someone in a feedback debate who is a republican one day and a unionist the next – Who would take Arlene Foster seriously if she came out in favour of a united Ireland on Monday and the Union on Tuesday?!
I’m not trying to shut you up because the truth is I don’t care what you think and your use of expletives is childish. But you referenced me in an article and you have made repeated remarks asking me to debate things with you, so I’m telling you why I don’t take you seriously and why I don’t want to spend time debating. I will heed the feedback off of anyone, unionist or nationalist, who says what they mean and means what they say on a consistent basis instead of someone who changes their views with the weather. I just find it very difficult to take you seriously and don’t value your “feedback” as fact-based. So I think you should focus your time and efforts on those who do want to engage with you Jessica, it’s not hard to do.
Who takes Arlene seriously now?
So can I presume you are not going to respond to the two simple points I queried?
Donal you said in a response yesterday you won’t waste any more time engaging with Jessica. For the sake of Jude’s blog can you please take heed of your own advice. You seem like an angry person who isn’t willing to engage in discussion and debate. The purpose of Jude’s blog is to allow for this and your attitude tells me you aren’t capable of this. If you think your knowledge is too superior for this blog, maybe consider slugger or something as a contributor lol
Declan in case you haven’t noticed Jessica has been instigating this for a while now and at first I just ignored it but it got to the point where a reply was necessary. I don’t think my knowledge is superior to anyone’s, we all know different things, but I do think it’s important to be consistent and that’s something which puzzles people about Jessica’s writings.
I’m not angry at all
No Jessica I won’t be spending anymore of my time having immature wars of words with you. I’ve told you what I think about your inconsistencies and right-wing views, and I’ve explained why I don’t value nor want your advice or feedback. So please do yourself a favour and make better use of your time. It’s as simple as that and doesn’t require debate.
Tranona oiche duit Donal, once upon a time, long, long ago I was a firm supporter of the Republican Army and their political element Sinn Féin.
It is now 2017, some thirty five years since Ii first voted, then using the list system for the election to the Prior Assembly, post 1981 Hunger Strike a lot of people voted for Sinn Féin. Time however teaches lessons, I am now of opinion this party have largely abandoned the very principles their hero’s fought, and in certain instances, died for.
It is perhaps time some people attempted to take an objective approach to all poliitics in Ireland, I myself cannot support the continuance of a thing I’ve never recognised but, ideas I can, and do, debate, a little like Jessica, sometimes my heart get’s the better of my head, there is a sound reason for this but, without such, where else would we be?
Tráthnóna maith duit = good afternoon to you
Oíche mhaith = good night
Maidin mhaith = good morning
Tranona oiche duit, good evening.
Tranona duit, good afternoon.
No harm to you Mark but what you are writing is:
“afternoon night to you”
and “afternoon to you”
Here is a link to some phrases you might find useful:
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/irish.php
I never said you were Donal.
I apologise if I messed your response, I don’t recall seeing it and I usually read them all.
Would it not be easier to just response to the two queries as I am not going to give you peace until you do? As I say, they are important to me
Will the average industrial wage apply to all workers or just those that run the country?
Will doctors and barristers be capped for example?
As for nationalisation of business.
What businesses will be nationalised and how will it be paid for?
You cited NAMA as an example of how, but the Irish people endured a lot of austerity to pay for that.
Will there be more austerity to pay for this nationalisation.
Jessica,
Please find better things to do with your unhealthy amount of time – that is the standard reply you will get from me to any future comments.
I thought Sinn Fein were inviting everyone to engage with their ”Towards a United Ireland” document,
I had previously presumed that this invitation was for everyone, regardless of current political persuasion.
Yet here you are, an Economics guru and self-appointed spokesman for Sinn Fein stumbling around like Stevie Wonder looking for his black cat in the coal-shed, at what are some fairly basic and obvious flaws in your micro-economic musings.
For your information, Jessica is entitled to ask any question she wants – and from any perspective she chooses – it falls to you and your party to defend and advance your position, something you have pointedly failed to do. In fact, your responses have become increasingly shrill, defensive and obnoxious.
If thats what your United Ireland looks like, how do you expect to persuade anyone that is opposed to it?
ps. You also seem to be very very angry.
You should consider an Anger Management course, or a career with the TUV.
pps. Good Luck with your United Ireland project – Im sure it will be a Shinner wet dream. The rest of us may get our Passports ready.
Fair enough Donal, I will leave you in peace
If they are Sinn Fein policy then perhaps someone else will be able clarify.
Ill be sure to ask
Dont fret about Donal’s hysterical response, He is talking for no-one except his own wildly exaggerated ego. Maybe his tie is on too tight.
Kevin – disagree with Donal – or anyone else – but stop this slagging. Man/ball and all that. Otherwise I’m going to have to take action.
Jude Id ask Donal directly but he seems reluctant to reply.
Is Donal a Representative of SF? It seems to be applied but is he speaking as a SF offical/party member?
Strange how you have merrily let Donal Lavery relentlessly attack Jessica for the last two days without the merest hint of chastisement…….
….is there a Heirarchy of Free Speech?
Well, I have been known to lay it on a bit thick myself, so I cant really complain Kevin.
I would imagine Jude is well aware I can take care of myself, no need to worry on my behalf