Enda Kenny predicts united Ireland is inevitable at American conference

Pilib04. Its the only line any of them can come out with at this time as they have made a total hash of anything else of relevance.Not a whimper from any of them when the 26 dropped its claim on the 6. Now they all clamber for anything that makes them appear in a good light. Most posters have also avoided the possability of the people from the 26 not wanting unification due to financial reasons.Will they simply pick up the tab for the block grant the North requires to survive.

Sounds like Kenny is stealing Gerry Adams line! Fascinating position for a Blue Shirt/westBrit.

Interesting proposition - however, a distinction must be made between English nationalist and the people who really run the british terror state. The former certainly view the other countries as a burden and refer to payments to them as "Celt geld" (this is financially inaccurate at least in relation to Scotland but accurrate re NI). The latter behave consistently with barneyjo's view irrespective of any democratic pretenses or structure - thus the construction of the MI5 moonbase in the occupied statelet.

@ancavker - disagree (respectfully. In the court of world opinion, the British will not allow themselves to abandon what in effect is the remenants of their first colony. Thats why they have stuck with it this far. Its now carrot and stick time, working towards a situation where the Unionist body politic have more reason to opt for greater integration with the rest of the island than not. And forget about a sovereign 32 county state from the get-go. I think it will be along the lines of a federal structure with local assemblies remaining in Belfast and Dublin. It will have to be that way for a while at least :)!!

barneyjo: Speaking for myself, I do not necessarily believe the 2014 referendum will pass, and at this point it probably will not. But if the yes vote gets 35 to 40%, than that will be a mandate for for autonomy for Scotland. It will in my opinion ultimately lead to independence, step by step. If this does occur, it may not matter what the unionists in the north want. England in my opinion will want to be rid of it. It is simply a drain on the English taxpayer;one big welfare state.

PS 1914 below should read 2014, of course! Apropos independence for Scotland, followed by Wales? It could be a case of the Lisbon (EuroFed) Treaty for Ireland (26 county proto republic of). The Irish Government (Scottish Assembly) keep running it until it is passed. Democracy has nothing to do with a united Ireland (no more than it had to do with a partitioned one). The priority for the shrewd 1912 Carson Covenanters (whatever about the 1913 Armourian ones) - was material. Ulster unionists proper will always go wherever the shekels gingle loudest - all 32 pieces of them! And the EU will see to that!

It was always a misapprehension to presume that the Act of Settlement, 1776 between the kingdoms of England and Scotland - and the Act of Union, 1800/'01 between the United Kingdom of the island of Great Britain (ie England & Wales and Scotland) and the island of Ireland were chipped on two tablets of stone and handed down to some hypothermic Anglo-Saxon Moses on Mount Snowdon. With the world's continental shelves shifting along the San Andreas fault, occasionally with implications for Ciudad Los Angeles/City of the Angels, it was inevitable that constitutional cracks would appear in the facade of an imperial unionism based upon fraud and deception. When the Clans Cameron and Salmond gather along the British border for some serious consitutional haggis flinging in the highland games of 1914, John Bull could well end up with egg on his face alongside other caber tossed Angles on the other side of the Grampians. Rather than the collapse of the currently constituted United(?) (sic) Kingdom (UK) being a catastrophy, the opportunities for truly democratic unionism between the four nations of both islands is a truly stupendous opportunity. Personally, I'm strongly intuiting genuine intra-national democracy. And my highly preened political antennae rarely fail me!

Big claims here folks about the "certainty" of Scottish withdrawal from the Union and its impact on the rest of the UK. Even if Scotland does leave and greater powers are ceded to Cardiff,nothing will change for the Unionist body politic. They will still view that hanging on to England's coat tails is way better than any increased integration on the island of Ireland,and is therefore the "least worst" option.

Ireland is on the path to a full, independent and free island. Not too far off now so our Unionist friends will just have to deal with that reality.

The Republic of Ireland will not be rejining the UK. Scotland will in the end leave the UK, perhaps not by 2014, but that is the road they are on. This will give the English the chance to have their own Parliament and government for their people.

torytory: No Ireland is not a home nation, it is a bizzare appendage that most English people would love to be rid of. And it's devolved assmebly has no real power, nor does it really accomplish anything. It just gets it's yearly check from the British government every year.

Gearoid4: You are absolutley right. I have been saying this for some time now, only to be dismissed by many pro-union supporters who post here. I have a lot of business dealings in Scotland, and I can tell you that in the business community for many Scots now support for or against independence is areoun 50/50. Even if independence is ultimatley defeated the large support that it will receive, will enable Salmond to renegogiate the current arnagment with the U.K., and achieve even greater powers for the Scottish government. This will be independence by steps. The Unionists in the north of Ireland are foolish to believe that this whole Scottish independence/more powers situation will not ultimately affect their relationship with the England/UK. What is really amazing however, is the pride that the Scottish people have in this whole endeavor, and their can do attitude. Compare that to what passes for politics in the Republic, and the lack of any real civic pride in Irish institutions. All the best to Scotland whatever they decide!

The UK or GB or England or whatever it calls itself doesn't want Nireland. It costs too much to subsidize. Let the island of Ireland be united so it can get straight-away to the work of bettering itself. When all of Ireland works together, the whole world will be in sheer amazement and the lure of the mystic, magical land renowned for its saints and scholars, music and peopled will bring tourism and investment. That means JOBS! The jobs will bring back some of the young and I venture to guess Irish-roots retirees. So unite the orange and the green with white under the tri-colour banner and commit to joining the Commonwealth. Times have been a wasting, so get on with it!

@Barneyjo, You are correct, insofar as a third of the Scottish electorate in recent polls have shown a strong preference for Scottish Independence. But that still leaves 47% who are largely undecided either way and with voting rights being extended to Scottish 16 and 17 year olds, Alex Salmond can still effect the eventual outcome, if he makes his case in the persuasive, rhetorical manner, that we know he can. Also an english tory PM, who is not particular renowned for sensitivity to Scottish issues, may help the Independence camp. The 2014 outcome will have a definite effect on politics in the north of Ireland. While the UI option does not currently have the support of the majority of the electorate up there, it could imperceptibly return as a valid option, in the face of the diminution of the UK.

A reality check for those posters who are convinced that Scotland will opt to exit the Union in 2014. Current polls put the level of support at present at 28-30% which is low even as a platform to build towards a majority. Granted that the pro-devolution camp has upwards of 2 years to change the minds of voters. Its a long way to travel in percentage terms though. @Tory Tory - how can you refer to NI as a home Nation. We do NOT have a Parliament. We have a "Super-council" that divides up the portion of the Westminister cake that comes in our direction. "No Taxation without Representation" is a worthy maxim Enda Kennys view is a worthy aspiration; but it will only be an aspiration until a majority of people in NI wish it otherwise. And that of course must include Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter. At present the votes are not there for the break up of the Union in Scotland. Do the maths!!