Comments by "Taint ABird" (@taintabird23) on "Owen Jones meets Mary Lou McDonald | 'Ireland will not be collateral damage for a Tory Brexit'" video.

  1. No. The Brexit that was supposed to end a civil war in the Tory party.
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  2. 'Britain is not trying to make Brexit difficult its the EU. Why are people not seeing that the EU is trying to make it as difficult as possible. All Britain wants to do is leave, that's all' I thinks it is because: 1) There was and still is no Brexit plan 2) The British government is still talking with and sometime contradicting itself about what it wants - it has been making it up as it goes along. 3) The UKs red lines are detrimental to the EU and the EU would never agree to them. They're not realistic. 4) You were sold a pup - the EU does not need the UK more than UK needs the EU. 5) The quality of your politicians is woeful. 'Why is Mary -Lou and co not in Brussels asking why are the EU making it so difficult for Ireland to continue its current relationship with Britain??' Because the EU is doing exactly what every Irish party wants. I know you cannot accept this. But it is the truth. What is so hard about believing that the EU is standing with Ireland, an EU member? 'Leo too has put the EU before Ireland.' See above. 'He is willing to allow the EU to destroy 50% to 70% in some cases of Irish farmers exports to the UK.' Everyone in Ireland understands that Brexit is British policy. Do you understand this too? 'He was voted in by the Irish people to represent the Irish people and already he has chosen the EU over Ireland.' In May 2017 support for EU membership in Ireland stood at 88%; in May 2018 it had increased to 92%. Varadkar's personal approval rating is extremely high. He IS representing the Irish people...
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  3. 'But Ireland should not allow the EU to destroy their current trade agreements that are in place in Britain. Its too costly to Ireland and their farmers in particular' It is not. The UK is. See my previous post. 'The world trade organisation would stand by this too given the history between the 2 counties.' The world trade organisation is governed by rules, as is the EU. It has nothing to do with 'history between countries'. I don't think you understood my previous point at all.
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  4. As a citizen of the Republic, I can tell you many here would make the same points...plus their economic policies are for the birds.
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  5. No One. Great. But I still don't understand the point you are trying to make. Is there an international treaty between the Ukraine and Russia recognising that if a majority in Ukraine wish to re-unite with the Russia that this will occur? Was it given legitimacy by a referendum on both sides of the border? Is it signed by the Ukraine and Russia? Is it filed at the United Nations? Otherwise, I don't understand why you brought it up.
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  6. '@ Jonathan E Your questions are interesting. I'm not in SF but I wouldn't mind attempting to answer them. 'How does she marry unified Irish political decision making with EU membership or even the GFA (border poll requirement)?' This is a confusing question, not sure she would understand it either. What are you getting at here? 'If Ireland is to be such a happy and close friend, how does she consider the current approach of ROI and the negative impact this has on UK attitude towards ROI?' That question has been reversed in Ireland since June 2016, if not before the referendum: if the UK is such a great friend of Ireland, like we thought they were, how come the impact of this idea on Ireland was not considered during what passes for a referendum debate in the UK. Do Brexiters think the Irish value their sovereignty less than the British do; or that its an appendage of the UK; or that Ireland would just supinely quit the EU, etc. 'What about her previous discussions on the UK paying ROI reparations for the cost of ROI/NI re-unification?' No, she's not talking about reparations - that's some sort of punishment. She is referring to an agreed but declining block grant to NI while the two economies / social systems integrate. This would be done over an agreed period of time. ''If self governance is her focus, why does her party refuse to return powers to Stormont?' A fair question. NI is in the midst of a 'culture war' fueled by 'identity politics'. It appears there are different agendas at play here.
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  7. @ Jonathan E 'In that regards, how does she resolve the contradiction between unified decision making on the island with the shared/diluted decision making as part of the EU.' Personally, I don't see any problem with this. I don't believe Irish people see any contradiction in this scenario - this binary notion of nationalism behind Brexit is outdated in Ireland. Problems within the EU are problems for all the members and it is likely now that reform will follow in the coming years. This is because of Brexit, the migration issue and because we are close to the limits of deeper EU integration. ''All are aware that the GFA does not commit the UK and ROI are part of the EU political union. She must also be aware of the strange situation where she, as a republican who supports the separation of NI from the UK political union, whilst proposing the NI rejoin a different political union (the EU).' Sinn Féin were a euroskeptic party on the island of Ireland until after the Second Lisbon referendum when it finally accepted that if it were to be make any a progress in the Republic, it would need to change its attitude towards the European Union. Irish Nationalism sees no comparison between membership of the UK and the EU - they are quite different in the Irish experience. Irish Nationalism is a much broader church than it was 50 or 60 years ago and many of the English nationalist rhetorical arguments for leaving the EU simply don't wash in Ireland. Irish nationalism has evolved to a point where it is no possible to Irish and European, in the same way as it is possible to be Irish and British, Irish and Protestant, Irish and gay, or Irish and Black. We understand in Ireland that the EU is not replacing our identity with a European identity, it is asking us to add a common EU identity to our distinct national identity. In that context - and SF were slow to cop on to this - there is no difficulty for Irish nationalism and a United, shared Ireland, to be part of European Union. After all, a new united Ireland who have its Britishness and its Irishness side-by-side too. 'The UK is attempting what the Republicans called for themselves (except the UK are attempting it with a clear mandate)...separation from a rejected political union. I would have thought the Irish would understand that instinctively.' The Irish know the limitations of 'independence', but apparently the British, or should I say the English, don't feel the Irish experience is worthy of consideration. You really think the UK is leaving the EU with a clear mandate? What was that mandate? And where is the evidence of it? Indeed, the referendum has highlighted the crisis in the UK Demos: both the Scots and Northern Irish must leave the EU because of what is clearly seen outside the UK bubble as a crisis in the heart of English identity and English nationalism. England is behind Brexit - and yet English nationalism still cannot admit that England is its own country, and still conceals itself behind 'Britishness'. This is what we see from an Irish perspective, in no small part because of our history with English nationalism as part of the UK. Irish nationalism was and is coherent. What is coherent about the English nationalism underpinning the UKs departure from the EU? Brexit is utterly fascinating to watch, it is a pity there is so much at stake.
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  8. An intelligent comment. I concur with your views.
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  9. Did you vote for national humiliation too?
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  10. He's coming under precisely ZERO pressure from anyone - Varadkar has his country behind him.
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  11. They're already leaving.
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  12. More childish than Trump voters?
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  13. This new country would be called the Former United Kingdom of England and Wales...or FUKEW.
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  14. 'Britain has lost its edge due to the EU over regulating its industries.' How come other EU economies have not? Germany is doing fine under the same rules - why? 'They want out and they are entitled to leave. ' It is the English voter that is taking the UK out of the EU. The Scots and the Northern Irish voted to remain. The UK is entitled to leave, but it not entitled to set the terms of its departure. 'Why would you not want to run your own Country? We all saw what the EU did to Ireland ramming the Lisbon treaty down its throat after it rejected it.' Ireland runs itself. For us in Ireland our hard-won freedom and sovereignty are things to be shared judiciously and to be deployed intelligently rather than jealously horded away on our island as Brexiters propose. Ireland makes the vast majority of its own decisions. The Lisbon Treaty was not RAMMED DOWN anyones throat - Ireland got protocols protecting its neutrality following its rejection and the Irish government made an argument as to why we should vote in favour of it - something it didn't bother to do first time round, and it was carried a second time. Ireland is not anti-EU, despite Farage's interpretation of Lisbon in Ireland. Repeat referenda is perfectly normal in Ireland which had two referenda on divorce, five on abortion, two on the Nice Treaty...in Ireland we are allowed to change our minds as part of our democratic process. Referenda in Ireland are fine examples of how the Irish make their own laws. 'The EU is also trying to ruin the UK and Ireland's current relationship and I find it terrible that the Irish people are allowing the EU to do this. Britain would continue to trade with Ireland on their current terms but the EU won't allow Ireland too.' Are you serious? In Ireland, Brexit is seen as an unfriendly/hostile act with an early attempt at using us to underrmine the EUs negotiating position being headed off by Varadkar. Ireland has taken sides with the EU as it sees no benefit in supporting Brexit. Ireland was never mentioned during the pre-referendum debate in your country. 'Countries should be able to run themselves, make their own laws, allow who they want to allow in and make their own trade deals on their own terms and the EU does not allow its members to do this' Countries join the EU to amplify their strength in obtaining trade deals - we are all equal in our membership with one another The trouble with the British is that the English have not yet accepted that they are actually equal to their neighbours and feel they are special because of their history. All of their short-comings since WW2 are being blamed on the EU and it does not realize yet that it is a small nation, getting smaller. If Ireland can adequately manage its immigration, why can the UK not do it? 'Britain would continue to trade with Ireland on their current terms but the EU won't allow Ireland too.' Given the lies the pro-Brexit Tories have told their own people, the Irish would not trust the UK as far as it could throw it in terms of Brexit promises. We're safer with the EU, we're economically better off with the EU, while the EU itself has proven to be more informed about Irish issues than the British establishment, which is quite shocking. As a consequence support for the EU in Ireland has increased during Brexit. The UK is screwed because of an English identity crisis, and Ireland needs to reduce its exposure to it.
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  15. 'Do you think Leo should allow Ireland walk away from its current trade deal with the UK?' Once again: THE UK IS WALKING AWAY FROM ITS TRADE DEALS WITH THE IRISH BECAUSE IT HAS CHOSE TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO. IRELAND IS NOT AN APPENDAGE OF THE UK. BREXIT IS BRITISH POLICY NOT, IRISH POLICY.
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  16. '88% support for the EU in Ireland? I don't think so.' I don't think so either - its 92% now. 'Sure its the Irish that are propping up the Euro at present with its €160 Billion debt. Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland in huge debt.' And yet Ireland has a lower debt to GDP ratio than the UK, plus a population living way beyond its means with some the highest personal debt in the EU. Where does that leave Brexit Britain as it goes it alone? Fortunately for you, it seems likely that the UK will remain tethered to the EU in some shape or form in the future. 'What about Lisdoonvarna? Do you think the people of Lisdoonvarna are happy with Leo and the EU?' I live near Lisdoonvarna and the people in the area are only concerned about the government engaging with the local population to ensure that the resources required are put in place to fully accommodate the new arrivals. What would you know of it?
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  17.  @GillianQuilty7334  Really? How so? And where did I claim to speak for the people of Ireland?
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  18. According to the Belfast Agreement, it will be.
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  19. I don't get it. How is your statement pointing out stupidity?
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  20. @ No One The context of the 'talking head's' comment the are the demographic changes taking place in NI and the potential carrot of a bad Brexit for NI. You didn't answer any of my questions.
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  21. Poles and Lithuanians also have no connection to a Brexit UK. We are living in a fluid situation thanks to 1) Brexit, 2) the changes in the demographic balance in NI and 3) imminent constitutional changes in the UK that will follow in the coming years because of the increasing lack of Demos in the UK; 4) imminent changes in the EU because of Brexit, immigration etc. Mary-Lou and SF are seeking a border poll for a 50% +1 majority for Irish unity. The Irish government will block such a poll as it opens an appalling vista of a divisive constitutional change reminiscent of the Brexit referendum, but with higher stakes. The Irish government will need to see a large minority of unionists in favour before there will be any agreement by Dublin for a poll on the border. Nonetheless, time and tide is on the side of Irish nationalism.
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  22. Sure that's grand so. Unionists always have an answer, and yet are always insecure. Why is that? Oh, and I'm not a Sinn Féiner. I've never voted for them. I have never cried 'Brits out' in my life, and I welcome the 100,000 Brits living in the republic - some of them are my friends. Your analysis is rather incoherent has completely ignored Irish nationalism and its aspirations - hardly a surprise, its a long tradition in your culture. This is a recipe for problems, but in the real world, that would not be permitted to happen as there are guarantees against one side ignoring the other in pursuit of its agenda thanks to the Belfast Agreement. Your analysis also places SF as the arbiters of Irish nationalism and I can tell you that they are not. Ulster Unionism has strong links to Scotland, but they will be in the minority in the future, and they will be divided between hardliners and the more open minded liberal wing of unionism. Irish nationalists in NI have strong links with the rest of Ireland and will be involved in shaping the future just as unionists are- why ignore that reality? Any independent Scotland will seek membership of the EU, and with a united Ireland already guaranteed EU membership, any notions of NI independence can hardly be considered worthy of serious consideration: there is no political or economic argument for it. Furthermore, as you have demonstrated, many unionists still seem to have a great difficulty with the notion of equality and many lack confidence in their culture holding its own in the face of Irish nationalism. I cannot see the idea of an 'Independent Northern Ireland' gaining any traction. Britain will always exist - it is an island like Ireland - but the UK may not; the EU will continue to exist, though not in its current form, it is always evolving anyway. Things will always change. An independent Irish state will always exist, though it will continue to evolve too. What is 'lunatic' about Irish nationalism anyway? Are any of your other scenarios based on any realities?
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  23. It seems logical that Poles and Lithuanians would prefer Northern Ireland to be in the EU. To them it is Brexit England that has rocked the boat. What was wrong the with status quo on the island of Ireland before June 2016? Everybody was happy with it! It was the perfect imperfect compromise.
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  24. Does she abort babies as a hobby?
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  25. A recent poll suggests that 92% of Irish people support EU membership. This suggests that they are not sick of the EU, whatever about political correctness.
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  26. Poles? LMAO. Oh that's priceless...
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  27. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/18/dont-kid-yourself-polls-are-usually-right.html 'poll's are always wrong' LMAO!!
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  28. Its how you spell it - makes you appear racists: a poll is a survey but a Pole is a somebody from Poland. I assume you a 'saying' both right....
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  29. This and a common sense suggests otherwise: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/08/18/dont-kid-yourself-polls-are-usually-right.html
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  30. So much for taking back control, eh?
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  31. All that from a John Lennon quote? I would have thought the fact that she was addressing a British audience was explanation enough for her populist quotation. After all, don't you believe the UK can 'have its cake and eat it'?
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