NI Assembly Elections - A rerun of the GFA referendum?

It's all a load of rubbish, there's an industry in political bigotry up there. Alot of money to be made from trying to get one up/not backing down from the other side.

Always amazed me why the hard-line unionists don't campaign for a border poll as well, as much as a vote on a UI, it's a vote on staying in UK aswell, a vote they would comfortably win too. So why not call the bluff and put it to bed?

Because it's better to keep their usual voter base uninformed, if people are no longer afraid then they are no use to them, their no surrender rhetoric becomes redundant.

In the year 2022, how in the name of Christ are Sinn Fein and the DUP still the main vote getters in the country? It's a sad indictment on the general electorate. You would have thought the majority care about issues rather than identity at this stage and even a woefully functioning SDLP/Alliance/UUP (seemingly the most moderate of unionists) would seize control to ensure society functions.

This is not how the Protocol works though — it does not cover services, only goods. NI’s relationship with the rest of the EU as regards services is governed by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, so in other words the exact same terms as the rest of the UK. The Protocol does nothing that would facilitate a Belfast version of the IFSC.

We really have to get it into our heads that the Protocol is designed and viewed by both the UK and the EU as a compromise to mitigate the particularly damaging effects of Brexit for NI. That is its purpose and nothing more. It is not an arrangement which is designed to be an economic development policy for NI under which the two key parties (Brussels and Westminster — not NI itself) will strive to boost NI’s offering to the world.

I support the Protocol because it is the only logical way forward in reconciling the Brexiteer’s demands with the protection of Ireland. I support all the parties working together constructively to ensure that it works to the optimum level, but we have to be realistic about what the Protocol is designed to do and what the UK and EU will tolerate from it.

FF and FG entering coalition was a moment in history of this island for people who designate as Irish citizens. I showed you Mary-Lou's words on that, do you want something similar for Michelle?

This crying and whinging about being congratulated is further signs of the victim mentality that pervades Sinn Fein, always someone else to blame for something.

I will comment that it shows a huge level of insecurity on Sinn Fein's part to be craving that kind of recognition from Micheal Martin.

The poor victims of Sinn Fein, nobody wants to congratulate them, the poor dears, hope they are not too upset.

QED what? I have already congratulated them.

The crying and whinging over the lack of congratulations is pathetic, and I have called that out. I have also shown that Sinn Fein are not quick to congratulate, in fact the opposite, they get the kick in ASAP. Get over yourself, Francie, this is a normal change in a democracy,

Both points are factually inaccurate.

(1) I congratulated Sinn Fein on their electoral success in my first post since the result on this thread, I think. That I have criticised them since is no different to Sinn Fein's own behaviour in the Dail. Your hypocrisy on that is blatant.

(2) I am critical of the government when they deserve it. For example, I have recently been very critical of the government for not moving faster to reform the defamation laws to prevent SLAPPs actions by prominent public figures. I have seen you give them a free pass for this.

(3) Given that you describe the Northern Assembly as a talking shop without powers (well, you did, to explain away the horrific Covid figures and the lack of action by SF on Covid), it hardly is anything much. Or have you once again changed with the wind like Sinn Fein, and now that they are in charge, Stormont is the most important parliament of all time. Get over yourself. Your adoration at the altar of Sinn Fein blinds you to everything. Nobody bothered congratulating Ian Paisley or Peter Robinson, it is only the victim-shrouded Sinn Fein who need that security blanket.

In the extract I posted from the Dail election of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach, your dear and great leader Mary-Lou barely wasted any breath congratulating him before lambasting and excorciating him. By her standards, I have been generous and magnaminous.

However, and this is something you have missed, Michelle is not First Minister yet. If and when she assumes that position, I am quite sure that Martin will congratulate her, and will certainly not indulge in the low-life tactics practiced by Mary-Lou when he was elected Taoiseach.