NI Census 2021

From what I understand, NI (and west of Ireland) are regarded as areas that need investment, so would be eligible for all the funding that Ireland got when it first joined the EU and all those roads were built. Ireland became a net contributor when it wasn't receiving EU funding for roads, schools, hospitals etc. If you apply for funding from the EU and the project is approve (i.e., roads, rail, airport, ports, etc. - all badly needed in NI), you will get the funding if the EU Commission agrees it. Nothing to do with Latvia or Lithuania being annoyed Ireland investing what it already gives.

The reason Germany and the Netherlands are net contributors is because they don't need to invest in infrasture the same way that former Soviet block countries do.

A measure I would use is have any communities felt the need to leave the country to get fair play.

both major communities in ni have flourished numerically in ni - and of course when you have two major blocks that disagree on fundamental issues like identity there will be conflict.

roi doesn’t have the conflict because 70% of one community left and the other 30% learnt to keep their heads down and not get above their station.

usa, Australia, nz, Canada, etc, all appear very successful countries but the reality is that if they had allowed the native population to grow and flourish in their midst then the conflicts in their countries would make NI troubles look like a kindergarten scrap.

success is viewed differently by those who benefit from it and those who don’t.

roi managed the situation successfully over the last 100 years - when viewed through an Irish nationalist lens

PS have a wee think which school system is most segregated, north or south?

One wee think later, I would like to give our anecdotal (Dublin) experience. We're catholic and there are 4 or 5 schools nearby, one a gaelscoil, one non-denom, 2 catholic and one coi. We went with the coi, because it was academically one of the better and also a bit smaller than the equally good, but larger catholic school. I think there are other catholics/non coi in the school, but the religious angle isn't a thing for us. Our daughters attend morning assembly the same as all the others. Maybe it's different in other schools, but I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking about them where I don't know the situation.

Last I checked the UK has just elected a new Prime Minister.

Our county councils are not fit for purpose and have had many functions (water, motor tax, driving licences, roads, etc.) stripped off them in the last 30 years, does that make us a "failed state"?

It wasn't a 30-year civil war, it was a terrorist campaign sustained to varying levels over a period.

However, even if we were to accept your view that it was a 30-year civil war, and this counts as a failure, then surely the 30 years of peace since then count as a success which begs the question why change something that is at peace?

This is exactly what I am saying. Simply stating a fact. I, like any right thinking person, would feel such a situation would be disgraceful and thankfully it didn’t happen in NI.

unfortunately it did happen in many places. The world over there are decimated minorities who either were massacred, got out or keep their heads down.

which bit of this are you disagreeing with?

“Loyalist threaten violence over the NI Protocol, currently - backed by the DUP.” - not sure what you are talking about. Both sides have done exactly the same and pointed out the dangers of diminishing their own communities identity 

“There are still shootings in NI on sectarian issues. “ - I honestly am not aware of these could you give us a few examples? I haven’t checked but I would be fairly sure there is much higher gun crime in Dublin than Belfast in fact our recent killings are organised by your Dublin gabgs

“DUP still threaten the GFA, saying that it is dead if the NI Protocol is not scrapped”. - that’s politics and democracy

“What is the difference between a civil war and a terrorist campaign engaged in by two distinct groups clearly identified by sectarian labels? The fact that one of the sectarian groups is aided and supported by the UK Gov does not stop it being a civil war, or being a terrorist campaign.” - I don’t think we had a full blown civil war

The Hutch and Kinahans gangland war is killing more people now than terrorists in the North. Does that mean we are not at peace?

There are plenty of polls to suggest you are 100% wrong on this Francie.

There just isn't majority support for a UI at present and unlikely to be one in the near future. Even if a plan is drawn up people will get even more anti-UI as they will see that they will have to pay for it, and get little back in return.

Varadkar put ideas on the table at the weekend. Fair play to him for doing so, despite the attempts of the bully-boys to boo him down.

At least Nationalists will not be giving them the ultimatum that the "Plantin o Ulstèr" invaders gave to our ancestors. "To Hell or to Connaught".

"To Hell or to Crossmaglen" maybe?

Before you reign in, it tongue in cheek. 😀

The PIRA campaign was a bunch of criminals using politics to cover for their criminal behaviour. There was nothing glorifying about it.

Last I checked the Westminister government was still in place.

I take it that you believe that this State has been governed well over the last 100 years.

Sam any chance of a few examples of these sectarian shootings you say are ongoing in the north?