Northern Ireland solutions

Our best friend is a Republican. Doesn't support IRA.
Why would unionists willingly belong to a country led by a party that supports the IRA'S campaign, and won't condemn what they did. Surely its no better than Russia killing Ukrainian citizens
You really don't understand.

Fleurpepper I have been thinking about your last post, and I thought I should make it clear that yes I agree, there were horrible murders on both sides which were completely unjustifiable.
Not committed by unionists or republicans but by paramilitary groups on both "sides".

I don't have any friends who think they were justified in any way.

However it doesn't mean that concerns about the Protocol by unionists should not be addressed.

But we will find out what people think in the election.

My husband, baby and I moved to Belfast in the depths of winter with the three of us and most of our worldly goods packed into a Morris Minor Traveller. We Scots RAF family had little knowledge of religion or Irish politics, and by accident unawares we found a B and B in a Catholic district.

The elderly landlady was kind to us and made us comfortable. But in the morning a strange young girl arrived at her house and her hostile attitude sort of forced the nice landlady apologetically to expel us from her house.

Our little family soon found another place to stay, and it was not until I had been in Belfast for some time I understood what probably had happened.

That's very sad Caleo, but very common. I'm surprised you stayed.

I have just made the mistake of commenting on another board to be met with replies about things that happened 700 years ago. With this mindset NI will never be solved.

I wonder did he mean 70 but history is not my strong point.

This going to be interesting

From 2025 the UK Borders and Registration Act will require all non EU citizens to have to submit boimetric and fingerprint data crossing from Ireland to NI.

At the non existent border (with hundreds of crossing points) between the two countries, no doubt...

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/northern-irish-politicians-slam-facial-and-fingerprint-data-requirement-for-non-irish-eu-citizens-crossing-border-42137635.html

nadateturbe

Fleurpepper I have been thinking about your last post, and I thought I should make it clear that yes I agree, there were horrible murders on both sides which were completely unjustifiable.
Not committed by unionists or republicans but by paramilitary groups on both "sides".

I don't have any friends who think they were justified in any way.

However it doesn't mean that concerns about the Protocol by unionists should not be addressed.

But we will find out what people think in the election.

Thanks- it is a discussion, and this is the way to do it.

Arlene and the Unionists knew what the Agreement would mean as far as the Protocol is concerned. They KNEW, without any doubt, that there would have to be a border somewhere. And they took the bribe, to keep quiet. So concerns, yes, I get it. But they KNEW exactly what the Deal would mean.

I agree Kircubbin we are where we are now.

Oh and so do I !

But how can one solve the NI Protocol and Brexit which requires a border between any non EU country and the EU?

You may be right.
To be honest a border issue didn't occur to me. I thought we would simply leave and there would be an EU border. I didn't see it as a problem. I just made sure I got my Irish passport.

nadateturbe

You may be right.
To be honest a border issue didn't occur to me. I thought we would simply leave and there would be an EU border. I didn't see it as a problem. I just made sure I got my Irish passport.

I don't understand why you didn't think a border would be a problem, nadateturbe. A land border would have violated the GFA (which, it seems as though this new requirement for non EU citizens might). And the border in the Irish Sea is causing the DUP grief.

I still can't see a solution.

Maybe I'm being totally stupid, but I thought the EU checks could be done inside the IR and people could just keep moving freely between north and south.Where possible goods from Britain by sea could go straight to Dublin port.

MaisieD It never occurred to me. I was probably more concerned about leaving the EU.

nadateturbe

Maybe I'm being totally stupid, but I thought the EU checks could be done inside the IR and people could just keep moving freely between north and south.Where possible goods from Britain by sea could go straight to Dublin port.

Not surprised you were not sure about the border. Johnson lied openly about this, and promised people of NI that there would be no checks and no border, and no paperwork.

But I would not have expected you to know- but I did expect the negotiatiors to know, and the DUP, and SF- and they all KNEW that there would have to be a border somewhere.

I know many people who got their Irish passports as they voted to Remain, and I just can't blame them at all- I would have done the same.

But I also know some who voted for Brexit, which they knew would deprive all British people of Free movement, knowing full well that they themselves, could avoid losing the same. And this is just hypocritical in the extreme and so so wrong.

nadateturbe

Maybe I'm being totally stupid, but I thought the EU checks could be done inside the IR and people could just keep moving freely between north and south.Where possible goods from Britain by sea could go straight to Dublin port.

How could it be. It would mean that British people from all over UK, and goods, including goods which no longer abide by EU standards, could move freely to NI and then freely to Ireland, and then freely to EU? Makes no sense.

Of course! British citizens could enter EU freely. Didn't think of that. 🙄

We need to rejoin!

nadateturbe

I agree Kircubbin we are where we are now.

They really are 2 different tribes, a bit like India and Pakistan.

nadateturbe

Of course! British citizens could enter EU freely. Didn't think of that. 🙄

We need to rejoin!

Is your post sarchastic, or your opinion.

Free movement has got to go both ways. You are surely not saying that British people should have free movement, but EU not? Or that British goods should have no checks, and do not need to adhere to accepted EU standards, but not t'other way round?

It's not sarcastic. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought it through properly.

kircubbin2000

nadateturbe

I agree Kircubbin we are where we are now.

They really are 2 different tribes, a bit like India and Pakistan.

It's true, to an extent. Working class estates are still mostly one religion or t'other. Frightening.

Would be better not to have left the EU.

Good luck to negotiators!

nadateturbe

It's not sarcastic. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought it through properly.

Thank you for being honest.

I try to be.

Just an update on effect of Protocol. In M&S today could not see cooked half chickens or breasts which we love. Asked, and was told that because of the Protocol it is difficult to get from England so they aren't selling them now.
Tried Sainsburys, none there either
Small problem but important to many.

Sadly bird flu has struck and there is a real shortage of chickens and poultry everywhere.