Northern Ireland solutions

My understanding is that it would enable tariff free trade, but allow control over migration.

What do you mean by 'control over migration'? The UK has always had control over migration.

Depressing indeed. The DUP's behaviour is shameful. The reality is, that NI is the only part of GB that is doing well, exactly because they are still in the Single Market and CU.

By their shameful behaviour, they are enabling and hastening- the inevitable- exactly what they never wanted, then or now.

The UK has always had control over migration.

I though that within the EU there was freedom of movement.

I am part Irish and although reared Protestant I look forward to united Ireland , now that Ireland has no established religion.

If the government spent as much energy sorting out the protocol as they have demanding another election it would all be sorted by now.
As for a united Ireland. Having lived in the south and now in the the north. I personally could not afford the cost of living that exists in the South.

Jane71

*The UK has always had control over migration.*

I though that within the EU there was freedom of movement.

The UK was never in the Schengen Area, so people coming to the UK have always needed passports. The border between Ireland and Northern is an exception, as a result of the historic agreement when the Irish Free State was established.

The UK was never in the Schengen Area, so people coming to the UK have always needed passports.

I agree, but it wasn't possible to limit the number of people coming into the country.

It would enable tariff free trade to EU rules, it means us accepting their rules.
At present that is not a likely option.

Jane71

*The UK was never in the Schengen Area, so people coming to the UK have always needed passports.*

I agree, but it wasn't possible to limit the number of people coming into the country.

That is a myth. It was always possible to control migration into the EU.

There was never a free for all.

Every country has the right to request EU immigrants return home should they not begin work within 3 months of entry.

The fact is that the U.K. governments chose not to follow those rules, so not something you can lay at the EU rules of freedom of movement.

Whitewavemark2

Jane71

The UK was never in the Schengen Area, so people coming to the UK have always needed passports.

I agree, but it wasn't possible to limit the number of people coming into the country.

That is a myth. It was always possible to control migration into the EU.

There was never a free for all.

Every country has the right to request EU immigrants return home should they not begin work within 3 months of entry.

The fact is that the U.K. governments chose not to follow those rules, so not something you can lay at the EU rules of freedom of movement.

Oh thank you. How many times does it have to be repeated, again, and again, and again and ...

It’s actually difficult to get a visa to enter the EU legally, millions would migrate legally if they could, just like the UK visas are very difficult to obtain

So the only way is to enter illegally and claim assylum, some also overstay student visas, or tourist visas.

Sinn Fein and DUP followers hate each other and have totally different outlooks on everything so I can't see them ever agreeing.
Each group will present a different view to the sec of state. The poor man hasn't a hope.

If Northern Ireland severs ties with Great Britain and becomes an independent country, will civil war be the result?
I know all Irish people blame the British for their problems but it's no use harking on about the past. What is the best choice for the future of Northern Ireland?

Freedom of movement within the EU means that if you are a citizen of one EU country you can legally move to another either to work, or to study.

If you go to another country looking for work, you can, if you qualify for it in your home country, receive unemployment benefit for a limited time. After that you can apply for it, or social security on the same footing as the citizens of the country you are in.

If you are unable to find work, you can be required to move back to the country where you hold a passport. Likewise if you commit a crime, you can be deported, either before or after serving a prison sentence in the country where you were convicted.

Whether you can as a citizen of an EU country live permanently in another EU country, is, as far as I know, up to the country you move to to decide.

The rules are complex, determined by such factors as whether you are in work and paying taxes, married to a citizen of the country you reside in, over retirement age etc.

Little of any of this is relevant to Northern Ireland or to Britain and has nothing to do with the border between Northern Ireland and the republic.

Brexit was always going to affect the movement of goods between Britain and the EU. We could clearly see this in the EU and took steps to meet the eventuality. Why the British could not do the same is a complete mystery.

Curtaintwitcher

If Northern Ireland severs ties with Great Britain and becomes an independent country, will civil war be the result?
I know all Irish people blame the British for their problems but it's no use harking on about the past. What is the best choice for the future of Northern Ireland?

Reunification. Splitting the island of Ireland into two was never a good idea.

Little of any of this is relevant to Northern Ireland or to Britain and has nothing to do with the border between Northern Ireland and the republic.

It is relevant because NI is still in the Single Market and has freedom of movement in the EU. That's part of the problem. There is an EU border in the Irish Sea and it makes it more complex for goods intended for NI only to move between the UK mainland and NI. Apart from that, NI is doing well trade wise because it is still in the SM.

Curtaintwitcher

If Northern Ireland severs ties with Great Britain and becomes an independent country, will civil war be the result?
I know all Irish people blame the British for their problems but it's no use harking on about the past. What is the best choice for the future of Northern Ireland?

Irish citizens north and south have the right to live and work in the UK, the Unionists have lost their majority and this “dog in the manger” attitude is going to loose them more support.

If the UK stays out of Europe NI will be a de facto province of Ireland, if the UK rejoins in some way the border problem disappears

"The lack of any compassion, of ordinary human kindness and decency, of even a cursory recognition of the seriousness of what people are facing in both the question and the reply is deeply shameful and morally repugnant.

At times I despair."

Naomi Long, Leader of The Alliance Party

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By their shameful behaviour, they are enabling and hastening- the inevitable- exactly what they never wanted, then or now.

DUP actions are no more shameful than SF in 2017, when SF were the cause of us having no Assembly. But you are right., Fleurpepper They may be hastening the inevitable.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-50822912.amp

They also attended a high profile IRA funeral, bad enough in itself, but it was during the pandemic, with huge crowds. Whilst telling others to stick to the rules.
Total hypocrites.
But somehow they are always seen as better than DUP.

I am not a great DUP fan, but I understand the DUP objections to the Protocol.
We need a solution that suits both "sides" and quickly. Our country is in a mess. What that is, I have no idea, as terrorists are always waiting in the wings.

grandtanteJE65
Freedom of movement within the EU means that if you are a citizen of one EU country you can legally move to another either to work, or to study.

But if we joined their Customs Union, that wouldn't apply would it, and we would have no tariff barriers?

Yes, it would apply. You can't be aprt of Customs Union unless FMOP is also agreed.

Yes, I understand this too

''I am not a great DUP fan, but I understand the DUP objections to the Protocol.''

but Johnson is responsible for this, and the blessed Arlene took the bung! However, one thing is clear, because of it, NI is thriving and doing much better than any other part of UK.

Not all businesses are thriving. Many are having difficulties and prices of some things have increased. But it's difficult to get an accurate picture.

This is the kind of thing that makes many people want to be part of the UK.
SF are becoming the major party in Ireland, and many do not want to be part of a country where IRA supporters rule.

Personally I and many others would not care as long as the Republic's economy was healthy. But it isn't and the cost of living is expensive.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-53275733.amp

Stormont collapsed in 2017 because the DUP cost the taxpayer half a billion pounds through its shambolic handling of the Renewable Heating Initiative. No acceptance of responsibility or integrity, the Special Advisor who didn’t even read the relevant documents in order to advise Arlene Foster got a new job, no shame that he advised relatives to sign up to the scheme when he knew it was about to be restricted. If that had happened in Scotland, it would have been all over the news, absolutely scandalous.
As far as the protocol goes, it is up to the UK government to sort it, but they have other things to worry about. The other parties in N Ireland don’t have the power to change the protocol so the DUP are wasting their time, they’re harming their own people.