Trump and his comments on a united ireland

[User20203]

So trump has said that he would love to see a united ireland, now I wonder if sinn fein will now be pro-trump and the DUP/unionists will be anti-trump 🤣

I think the unifying thing Trump offers the world is so so many people deeply dislike him.

The DUP has the best response. 'Not as orange as he looks’

@turkeyboots lol trump is going to cry now that the irish hate him when they start burning trump/america flags at the next 12th bonfire

A united Ireland should be a possibility, at thr very least a vote.

Trump should have nothing to do with it.

It’s a classic example of a chronically under-informed despot sounding off about something of which he knows nothing. The island of Ireland will make a decision about this in its own time without taking his idiocy into consideration.

Perhaps he means the Republic should rejoin UK.

Time to reunite Texas with Mexico.

And that's a can of worms anyone in their right mind would want to open. Why not? The Middle East has proved quick and easy to deal with. Ukraine was sorted almost immediately Trump got involved. Why not another simple easy straightforward issue like Northern Ireland?

Sinn Fein have always been Trump supporters, and he has always supported them.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-attended-sinn-fein-fundraiser-months-before-ira-attacked-london-a6767601.html

Much as I dislike Trump, good.

I mean Westminster refuse to even disclose the criteria for a Border Poll 🙄

Too many died taking back Irish independence.

I doubt that a majority in ROI actually want a UI.

Imagine having to share a country with former terrorists and current bigots, and who is going to pay for it? NI is a bit of a basket case economically speaking so there's that to pay for. The only people who want it are former terrorists Sinn Fein, certain Nationalists, and a cautious Irish Government who do not want to rock the boat.

Anyway, there has to be consensus on both sides that a referendum would succeed. I can't see it happening, the sides are far too polarised, and qui bono anyway? Oh and what Fleg/Flag, how many bonfires, will the Peace Wall come down, who runs the schools, RC or Protestants, what happens to the NHS in NI and so on. I don't think the time is right yet. It should not be done for the sake of it.

It's the economy stoopid any which way you look at it, and I can't see any citizen willing to pay a shedload of tax to see a UI. Someone will have to pay for it.

@Ashmoleum And currently the UK pays for it.

Well yes, that's because it is part of the United Kingdom. So it is right that it does.

The problems will arise if and when there is a UI. Presumably the UK will back out and have nothing more to do with NI, so it will be up to ROI and NI to fund it going forward. There may be a transition period where all countries contribute but who the heck knows!

So then we have Ireland which is racing ahead of all parameters in the areas of the economy, education, high tech, pharmaceuticals and so on. Its tax take is largely dependent on foreign direct investment companies and being a member of the EU is advantageous for sure.

There will be a huge drain in taking on a NI that is barely surviving, where the bigotry and low level terrorism is just under the surface ready to break out like a tinder box, where the majority of employment is in the Public Sector, and NI is not formally a member of the EU. What will it contribute to a UI? I mean seriously, I don't think people with their rose tinted glasses on can see beyond a 32 county Republic. I also think that there is far too much going on in the world to initiate a UI right now. Eventually it will happen I have no doubt about that, but the timing is not right just now, it will open up some wounds that have barely closed and all hell might break loose again. I don't want that, and I doubt many others do either.

It's a big question, but definitely one to watch!

Too many Irish died fighting each other after Independence.

If only it would unite more Americans (and countries) against him!

Anyway, there has to be consensus on both sides that a referendum would succeed

Sounds like you need a referendum on having a referendum.

The reunification of Germany - only separated for 49 years compared to Irelands 100 or so (and that is an argument in itself) should provide some idea of the challenges.

And no matter what happens, when, Britain would have to underwrite the defence of Ireland.

Why would Britain be underwriting the republics defence? Its neutral, not part of the Commonwealth, not a military partner in NATO and already has its own armed forces. An independent United Ireland would be on its own.

I'm not sure Scotland would be happy with a UI, presumably many of the 'loyalist' community would head there?

Ireland can keep its bigots. Scotland (and England) have enough of their own.

There's more.

Republican Representative Randy Fine of Florida posted on social media supporting a "four state solution" for the UK, adapting a pro-Palestinian political slogan.

Ironic given the UK's two State Solution for Israel & Palestine.

Yep.

Should've gone the distance & taken all of Ireland back.

Sir Edward Carson never wanted Partition. He wanted a United Ireland but within the Empire.

Partitioning someone's else's country is a hideous crime.

The problem is unification would ultimately cause civil war in Northern Ireland, something the republic of Ireland doesn't want.

The best thing for the UK would be to join the EU and single currency....just be done with it an acceptable the reality that we need it more than we don't.

As an aside, and given the UK's "Putin Problem". conscription was never enforced in Ireland & after Partition NI. Westminster backed down.

So NI is already split from rUK economically & in some ways militarily.

We're on a gentle downward slope to reunification.