to ask if you know what the Irish backstop is and do you care

[HurricaneFloss]

If you know what it is, please explain it very simply to me.

If you care - why?

If you don't - why?

and, I’m not British.

I’m wide happy for NATO to drop depeleted uranium on U.K. bridges and infrastructure too

Chiffon. I’m originally from NI and can understand your position. I’m embarrassed to come from there and the divisions are so ingrained. Most of the time when I’m asked where I’m from, I say Ireland and only if pushed clarify that it’s NI.

But I do take issue with you saying NI isn’t Ireland. It clearly is. My grandfather was born before partition at a time when a border between Cavan and Fermanagh was as outlandish as one between Essex and Suffolk would seem now. He was Irish then and did not stop being Irish just because the border was imposed. Our county had voted for independence just like almost everywhere else but the border was imposed without any regards for local wishes. Your country has been allowed to progress to be a modern, self-assured country whereas NI is condemned to be a sectarian economic backwater. With the GFA and a new generation, there was the potential for change, but Brexit is messing that right up.

So yes, you’re all right because your ancestors were the right side of the line at partition. But thankfully, Varadkar has said that the Irish government will never again forget and abandon the Irish people of the North. And thank heaven for that.

Ireland is happy to stay in the EU. We're nothing to do with brexit

The problem is, Ireland is involved, whether it likes it or not. If the UK leaves, then the EU border will run through the Island and will have an impact on those who live near it, commute across it or conduct business over it.
If the backstop plan is to move it to the Irish sea and keep NI is some way still in the EU, and thus different from the rest of the UK, then unionists will get cross, and that too will impact people on the Island.

I get that some Irish people may not be interested, but their representatives can see it will have an impact, hence their involvement.

So why are you talking about doing the same to a province that is trying to rebuild itself after many years of terrorism fuelled, in part, by the treatment of its people by the British establishment? NI people have had friends and family slaughtered and have lived in fear for decades. Do you reatthink that they supported similar treatment of people in other countries or did you just come on here to post a rant about the ‘British’?

I think the backstop is a move by the EU to force a united Ireland. They can't stop meddling.

Madge The UK is a NATO nation, therefore, NATO planes wouldn't be dropping bombs on the UK. I think you'll find air to air refuelling is used by war planes, as is refuelling on aircraft carriers and the joint USAF/RAF bases in the UK.

I think the backstop is a move by the EU to force a united Ireland.

No, it's a move to protect the EU border & who can blame them? without one, it will become an easy route for unscrupulous traders to dump non compliant produce into the EU, unless you suggest that the EU should treat Ireland, a member state, differently from the others and close their border?

Bimgy85* I am not sure which part of NI you had your experience. NI is a beautiful place, scenery, landscapes, lovely warm people I would suggest everyone to have a visit, befor the border anyway.

Yes parts are under developed but there was the troubles, Businesses were developing, it had the potential to really grow before Brexit.

I care and many do, not that it will make a difference.

I'm neither grumpy or tired. I'm merely stating what 4 million of us are thinking

You're certainly not speaking for me or the rest of Ireland. We are looking on nervously, not gloating and hating people.

Scaryteacher - don’t be ridiculous. The backstop is an attempt by the EU and Ireland to stop the Troubles re-emerging. Since the GFA, there has been effectively no border. Demographic change means that Nationalists are very close to a majority in NI and indeed may already be so. Reimposing a border because of Brexit will do much more than anything else to lead to a United Ireland. Several recent polls have found that, whilst people were happy in the UK with the status quo, in the event of a hard border, a majority would vote for reunification. If the backstop keeps a soft border, it is more likely to preserve the Union.

If you care about preserving the UK, don’t go for a hard Brexit.

Yes, the DUP stance is baffling. It will be a tragic irony if there refusal to give any concessions to the other half of people in NI leads to the end of their Union. They see threats in anything, but that paranoia leads to making NI an unacceptable place for the nationalist population who will soon be the majority.

EU very much wants to focus on EU27 economic growth, promoting good intra-member relations, dissuading Poland & Hungary from going far right & managing the Migrant Crisis. Brexit is an annoying small-medium-size problem.

Derailing slightly but Chiffon 2 panadol, can of 7up to sip, toast and a namechange. You're welcome.

As you all were ( I'm not even going to try because I'll lose a day to this and stress myself).

As an Irish person, if you dont see what impact Brexit will have on us in Ireland you’re missing the point. Our economies are hugely intertwined.

I’m not from NI.i have no burning desire or otherwise in a United Ireland. I do care about the interests of the people in NI. I do care about their economy, their futures, their safety. It horrifies me that the interests of a vulnerable region are represented by the DUP, Boris and Rees-Mogg. One so blinded by their ideology that they can’t conceive of being absolutely shafted and loyally hang on. The other two so utterly utterly removed from the lives of people in NI but will still blindly push them over the edge. Whoever said ‘Belfast is just like Finchley’ ie we are exactly the same was wrong. NI is different and deserves to be respected as such.

RuggerHug 😆

As for Northern Ireland, that's a no mans land, not wanted by Ireland, not wanted by England, a recent visit there shows that. The place is a bloody tip. Filthy, run down, empty buildings everywhere. Disgusting.

Huh, must've moved without realising.

May's stupidity in calling an election, losing a majority and then becoming reliant on the DUP thus scuppering any hope of a sea border. Some people just excel in fucking up.

Also funny that people who would have been shouting "no surrender" 30 years ago are now happy to throw NI under a bus.

It looks like Brexit is creating an every man/woman for themself, self protection.

The consequences for Ireland from Brexit, The whole of Ireland north and south will be massive. Only idiots believe Brexit will have little effect. I wouldn't usually take an interest in UK politics but the whole thing is a joke and very sad joke. The fact the DUP merged will go down like a bomb in Irish history too.

@Ifailed yes, the only impact being to a minimal amount of people who want to actually visit NI.

Not many. So it's not having a huge knock on effect. The worst that will happen is we cannot go freely to NI. Which is not a problem, I lived for 35 years before I visited NI. And wouldn't be in a rush to go back.

Ireland isn't involved, it's just it might have an impact on a few thousand people. A small one at that

@Tomatoesrock can you tell me what serious consequences are involved for Ireland? There's no such thing as south Ireland so just the country of Ireland. Thank you?

There actually is the south of Ireland depending on where you are, say Donegal. There is also a north east and west of Ireland.

The consequences of Brexit on Ireland will effect and close businesses, create mass immigration to Ireland. The health service is already over loaded, homeless crisis is havoc. The passport office has been horrendous since Brexit was announced.

@Tomatoesrock I know physically there is a south of Ireland as I live there. But I mean people don't say we are 'southerners' cause we're not. Republic of Ireland is its own country. I suppose we will see the consequences of brexit

You hardly thought donegal was the south of Ireland @Tomatoesrock 😂😂😂

Bimgy85 No I do not think Donegal is the South it's the North that is the point.

I have also lived most of my life in the Republic, except the years I lived in NI with my Nationalist DP and dual nationality DC before we moved back down south, the South of Ireland well South East to he specific.

just it might have an impact on a few thousand people

Bollocks. I've family in County Monaghan (population 60,000) and any changes to the border will affect them, even if it's just visiting relatives.

Add in Louth (129,000), Cavan (76,000), Leitrim (32,000) and Donegal (159,000) and you've got 1/2 million people.

I care as I do not want to see any return to anywhere near the number of deaths and injuries that there were in the 70s and 80s. There may not be 100% peace (there are still punishment beatings for example) but a hard border would be used by some as an excuse to increase violence.

just it might have an impact on a few thousand people

Are you genuinely this obtuse?

U.K. is Ireland's biggest export market. Anything that interrupts trade between the two countries will have huge economic implications. The farming sector is very worried about this. A no deal brexit for example will make their lives very difficult.

Ireland has just had 10 tough years, the banking crisis hit us very hard. The last thing we need is brexit just when things were starting to look a bit more positive.