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The Irish question

(530 Posts)
varian Sun 26-Nov-17 15:09:43

Some of us would like more than anything to remain in the EU, along with our Irish friends, but if we have to leave then at least we hope to remain in the single market and customs union.

If the extreme brexiteers have their way this will not happen. The Republic of Ireland will keep free movement of people, goods and services with the rest of the EU. We will not keep any of these freedoms, so what will happen at the Irish border?

Primrose65 Wed 29-Nov-17 18:28:22

Do any other countries have a border with the EU?
What systems do they use to manage their borders?
Why are their systems not appropriate for the Irish border?

This is not an issue unique to the UK.

NfkDumpling Wed 29-Nov-17 18:18:29

Why is saying the EU want a united nation, a new country, Project Fear Maisie? It's never been a secret that that's been the aim from the outset. Even Churchill wanted it (only fewer nations). One currency, one defence force, no borders, legislation and taxation from Brussels with individual government or assemblies as we have in the UK at present.

GracesGranMK2 Wed 29-Nov-17 18:11:35

You are all getting so over excited and emotional about the Irish border question, as if you yourselves are required to come up with the answers.

I really do object to other people reprimanding me, on an open forum, for the level of excitement or emotion that I use in regard to a particularly difficult part of leaving the EU. I do not want to leave; I did not want to leave. I am entitled to be as emotional as I choose about something I do not believe to be a good thing.

Fennel Wed 29-Nov-17 18:10:35

ps in ref. to this topic - the Irish question and its complications was one of the things never mentioned.

Fennel Wed 29-Nov-17 18:08:23

Maizie - a good post (rant). My thoughts and feelings too.
What most people don't realise is that before we joined the EU there was a long debate in Parliament, more than a week, where both parties acknowledged that by joining, the UK. would lose some of her sovereignity. The general population were informed of it all.
In the years following, we signed various treaties and trade deals entangling ourselves even more in obligations and financial duties to the EU.
All this was completely ignored in the introduction to the 2015 referendum.
Why?

jura2 Wed 29-Nov-17 17:50:25

Did you see Duncan being made mincemeat of today- he clearly has NOT got a clue and used the word 'we hope' about 5 times in a few minutes sad

Tegan2 Wed 29-Nov-17 17:46:27

Don't the people in government represent what we want or are we not in a democracy? I thought the whole point of leaving the EU was to have control over what happens not allow a group of people to do whatever they like regardless of how we feel/what we believe?

lemongrove Wed 29-Nov-17 17:23:13

Yes, somebody has to Tegan2 but it won’t be anybody on GN, it will be those in government who do, it isn’t going to be on the back burner to sort itself out.The government has to negotiate this with Eire and NI and the EU, it’s tricky no doubt about it, but it will be arranged.

Tegan2 Wed 29-Nov-17 17:18:45

Well, someone has to come up with an answer; the government clearly don't have one sad. Buy, hey, it'll all sort itself out won't it...

lemongrove Wed 29-Nov-17 17:17:08

You are all getting so over excited and emotional about the Irish border question, as if you yourselves are required to come up with the answers.

lemongrove Wed 29-Nov-17 17:15:00

Yes maizieD so it was a rant from you then.

MaizieD Wed 29-Nov-17 17:12:57

grin maryeliza

But I do think poor lemon has problems with English word meanings from time to time. A 'rant' is usually emotional and light on fact...

lemongrove Wed 29-Nov-17 17:08:49

True!

maryeliza54 Wed 29-Nov-17 16:59:03

Never any danger of a rant from you lemon

lemongrove Wed 29-Nov-17 16:57:11

What a rant from you MaizieD

We are nothing like Catalonia nfK so don’t trouble yourself on that score.

Wheniwasyourage Wed 29-Nov-17 12:47:49

This is one of the political threads where I lurk rather than posting a lot, because the unpleasantness can be so off-putting. For example, nigglynellie's description of Scotland and NI as 'baggage' - and presumably Wales too. Scotland voted 62% for Remain, nn, and some of us see the Little Englander Brexiteers as 'baggage'. This 'baggage' is slowing our economy and making us part of a laughing-stock to other countries. I am very sorry for our English Remainer friends, who don't have even the possibility of a breakaway, such as we have, although GGMk2 is not alone in wondering about the North of England...

As usual, no Brexiteer has come up with a list of advantages we are going to get from this shambolic Brexit, should it happen. I'm living in hope that it doesn't.

GracesGranMK2 Wed 29-Nov-17 12:23:35

You've heard it too Maizie! I have mentioned before that I 'watch' another forum which is all older people and the men in particular, when you read the vocabulary they use, are fighting a war they were too young to be involved in.

That is partly where the xenophobia comes from. Equally the idea that this country is always, in all ways better than any other, (except where there are immigrants) and can do more and better than any other country, as long as we don't give people benefits unless they prove themselves worthy and are preferably starving at the time (just as people did during and before the war apparently).

BUT ... I have just seen a post from one of the grumpy old Brexiteer's saying we need to understand what this is going to do to our children's children. A bit late but perhaps some thinking is beginning to be done.

GracesGranMK2 Wed 29-Nov-17 12:11:18

Other people I read do that for me too Smithy. How sad though that we are in this position and see this upheaval for our country, our children and out grandchildren based, basically, on lies and an ignorance of our democratic process.

Tegan2 Wed 29-Nov-17 12:01:22

I don't think I want to be part of that new nation sad...

MaizieD Wed 29-Nov-17 11:43:07

We might as well give in now and realise that we’re heading towards being a small part of a new nation

That is Leavers' 'Project Fear', too.

Particularly those who still haven't managed to get over WW1 & WW11.

Tegan2 Wed 29-Nov-17 11:18:09

'So, yes we do want the negotiators to stop making things difficult and start being just a bit constructive'. No; I think they're just struggling to make our negotiators [I use that term loosely] understand what our obligations are and how complex the issue is for everyone.

NfkDumpling Wed 29-Nov-17 10:15:12

Oh dear, looks like we’re stuck then. We might as well give in now and realise that we’re heading towards being a small part of a new nation, a bit like Catalonia. I suppose I’m just not of the right mind set to be ready for that and I fear I never will be.

Smithy Wed 29-Nov-17 09:43:57

GGmk2 - you and Maisie express so well all the things I feel and fear about leaving the EU.

MaizieD Wed 29-Nov-17 09:41:22

I think this article illustrates the point I'm trying to make; that understanding of the complexities of Brexit is extremely poor.

www.irishtimes.com/opinion/kathy-sheridan-why-is-british-public-so-ignorant-on-brexit-1.3308465?mode=amp

MaizieD Wed 29-Nov-17 09:20:06

'lofully'shock
Fat fingers and a tablet 'touch' keyboard. And that was after editing sad