Cost of a United Ireland and the GFA

OK, since you criticise other people for lack of explanation, what exactly is the problem with Queens accepting the NFQ? There is already a mapping all its qualifications into the NFQ, they have lots of applicants with Leaving Certs already. Non issue.

The issues with Peace Walls and bonfires have diminished inordinately since the Anglo Irish Agreement and the pursuit of equality and parity of esteem.

There are those on the island whose preference is to ignore these issues and to throw their hands in the air in frustration.

Personally I believe that these issues (on both sides) can be further tackled through education and the eradication of poverty and deprivation. (Just look at the circumstances in the problem areas0.

It won't fully eradicate the problems of sectarianism but it will go a long way to minimising them. We have seen the difficulty belligerent loyalism/Unionism has bringing people onto the streets to be violent or sustaining any violence that could destabilise.

And I will say it again, the last thing the UK will want on hand over is a destabilised province dragging them in again, they will be the most up for ensuring the transition has little to no bounce back for them. It will therefore be as much an 'investment' for them as it will be for an Irish government. All the stakeholders will sell it as an 'investment' in the future.

That is incorrect. There have been a series of Future Ireland events which will continue.

The 'problem' is the FF/FG alliance is trying desperately to stall any momentum. Will they succeed? I don't think so. If Unionism gets it way on the Protocol or if they continue to act undemocratically more and more are going to want the conversation to begin and a plan/proposal formulated. That will include Britain, who are headed there anyway IMO.

Talk to me about polling when that happens. It will only be relevant then.

Not surprised you diminish it really. It's to be expected, Unionists Lundy anyone taking part, partitionists/anti UIers try to ignore or diminish it.

Still wrong to say that 'nobody is selling it'.

Where to start?

It took the guts of ten years to put together our own NFQ and bring all Irish institutions under its wing. There were arguments and difficulties over the position of the then institutes of technology for example. Negotiating the GFA was arguably easier than any agreement over quality assurance in higher education. You can be certain that Queens will come to the table with a position that the NFQ needs to change to adjust to them and then the fun begins.

You chose to ignore it...didn't even mention it and claimed nobody was doing anything. That's on you.

You cannot force people to take part in these discussions and IF had a good cross section of people giving their views which was far from an echo chamber. The selective Shared Island initiative however did try to create an exclusive echo chamber. What the government party that set it up got in return was threats and intimidation from those who are pretending to be democrats. The other main party of government had their initiative (applauding the DUP at their annual conference) thrown back in their faces too with Varadkar and Coveney the subject of threats.

Doesn't diminish the fact you were wrong.

Now you need to reseasrch the many many public meetings SF have organised north and south and online, AFAIK they have been heavily attended too

.

Your ignorance oif what is happening on the ground is revealing tbh. Not bothered what you think of these events (I can guess) but you are wholly and abjectly wrong on the facts.

If they have a case that it should be changed, then that case can be examined and it can be changed as required. Such things are not urgent.

Nobody I have seen yet has a definite idea of the cost, if there is to be one, when all is added and subtracted. Every estimate has been disputed and questioned and looked at from differing angles. I am quite happy that there may never be a quantifiable 'cost' or indeed 'benefit'.

Can you point to any evidence you have that these public meetings that SF have been holding for some time are 'fundraisers'? I don't think you'll be able to.

The fact is, the poster was wrong again to say what they did, regardless of what you or he thinks of these meetings.

So here we have another poster making claims they cannot back up.

The claim was no political party was doing anything about a UI - it was wrong. Trying to shift the goalposts and ask about who was invited won't wash tbh.

The claim:

You are quite entitled to your view of these public meetings.

What you are not entitled to is a distortion of the facts.

No, let's be clear, Sinn Fein are organising meetings to discuss a united Ireland among the converted, that is a fact. Whether or not that is doing anything to sell a united Ireland is a matter of opinion. Most opinions on here seem to believe that the actions of Sinn Fein are hindering a united Ireland, a view that is widely shared among political commentators and the general public.

FACT: Sinn Fein are organising meetings.

OPINION: Sinn Fein are/are not (delete as appropriate) doing something to sell a United Ireland.

I think we can leave it there as opinions will differ. Attempting on either side to turn opinions into fact will fail.

Well, let's be clear, and to paraphrase, it was your posts that claimed as a fact that SF were selling a united Ireland.

It is now accepted that is merely an opinion, and given that you are constantly calling on the government to take initiatives, I believe you secretly share the opposite opinion, that SF actions are harming the cause of a united Ireland.