54 Comments

• seamus60 | Oct 23, 2012, 04:52 PM EDT

  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.

• pilib04 | Oct 18, 2012, 12:51 PM EDT

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

• curtisjohnson | Oct 17, 2012, 07:17 PM EDT

  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.

• barneyjo | Oct 17, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT

  @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 :)!!

• ancavker | Oct 17, 2012, 09:51 AM EDT

  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.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 17, 2012, 07:28 AM EDT

  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!

• IrelandNorth | Oct 17, 2012, 06:56 AM EDT

  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!

• barneyjo | Oct 16, 2012, 07:11 PM EDT

  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.

• Smyrnian | Oct 16, 2012, 05:12 PM EDT

  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.

• ancavker | Oct 16, 2012, 01:34 PM EDT

  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.

• ancavker | Oct 16, 2012, 01:31 PM EDT

  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.

• ancavker | Oct 16, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

  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!

• SeamusMartin | Oct 16, 2012, 12:29 PM EDT

  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!

• Gearoid4 | Oct 16, 2012, 10:59 AM EDT

  @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.

• barneyjo | Oct 16, 2012, 03:02 AM EDT

  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!!

• curtisjohnson | Oct 15, 2012, 03:51 PM EDT

  @ToryTory "NI, as a home nation, has a democratic will just as much as Wales or Scotland." This is incredibly naive - under the enduring system of british proto-bolshevism, everything is ostensibly "democratic" until the majority go against the interest of the long established elite. If the british terror state had any intention of ever letting NI go with a democratic vote, that would not have invested in the huge MI5 moonbase there.

• jacersagain | Oct 15, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT

  If Scotland votes to leave the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the UK will no longer be ‘Great’ or ‘United’. That will leave NI Unionists without a Union to belong to. Whither shall they go then?

• Gearoid4 | Oct 15, 2012, 01:55 PM EDT

  Seamus60 has put his finger on the main reason(economic) why nationalists at the moment are holding their consent for a United Ireland but this does not mean that they have any affinity with or affiliation to Britain. Thus who quote opinion polls should keep this in mind. The referendum to decide Scotland's future in 2014 will have far-reaching implications for the configuration of the UK, and effectively will throw the constitutional cat among the pigeons. @ToryTory, NI does not have the criteria to be a "home nation" unlike Scotland(which will more than likely be independent by 2014) or Wales. The two parts of Ireland can ill-afford to be pulling against each-other in terms of economics, social cohesion and practical politics. Both are in dire straits economically and an UI makes sense socially, economically and politically. Some elements with protestant unionism may threaten a backlash against a movement in this direction, but as politics progress in Ireland as a whole, it probably will be the last kick of a dying mule.

• Gearoid4 | Oct 15, 2012, 01:50 PM EDT

  Seamus60 has put his finger on the main reason(economic) why nationalists at the moment are holding their consent for a United Ireland but this does not mean that they have any affinity with or affiliation to Britain. Thus who quote opinion polls should keep this in mind. The referendum to decide Scotland's future will have far-reaching implications for the configuration of the UK, and effectively will throw the constitutional cat among the pigeons. @ToryTory, NI is no more a "home nation" than northern

• seamus60 | Oct 15, 2012, 09:13 AM EDT

  The whole subject of reunification has lost momentem due to one single fact. Economics. All of the people are more worried about getting the food on the table and shoes on the childrens feet. A sign of the times to come as the new world order gets its teeth into all of us. Keep the wee man busy on issues around him and he`ll miss whats really going on.

• TayandCake | Oct 15, 2012, 08:11 AM EDT

  there may be nothing left to unite in 30 years

• ToryTory | Oct 15, 2012, 08:00 AM EDT

  British rule? What cobblers. NI has a devolved assembly just like the rest of the constituent parts of the UK, barring England. There is no 'yoke of authority'; NI, as a home nation, has a democratic will just as much as Wales or Scotland. Yes yes, 'Republic', we're all aware of the changing demographics - but this is moot. Surveys of the last half a decade have a showed a leveling, and then an increase, of support for the Union amongst Catholics. The supposed demographic transformation that has been touted by republicans hasn't really materialised. You're also massively over egging Protestant affiliation towards Sinn Fein: of Catholics & Protestants, the Protestants are the most emphatic pro-union denomination, succeeding even Catholic preference for unification.

• Realist | Oct 15, 2012, 07:58 AM EDT

  ForTheRepublic!: Why do you see the constitutional status of Northern Ireland in terms of a naive sectarian head count? I suggest you read the post below by ToryTory - his comment is based on facts available in the public domain for some time. Also, would you please provide the names of just 5 "former Unionists" who joined Sinn Fein in the last 5 years? The only "white elephant" that springs to mind for me is Billy Leonard - he joined Sinn Fein in 2004 but left in 2011.

• ForTheRepublic! | Oct 15, 2012, 07:27 AM EDT

  Some good points but for the people saying that the North of Ireland will remain under British rule consider this...four of the six counties that make up the North of Ireland are majority Catholic while only two counties are majority Protestant. Yes the two counties that are majority Protestant have bigger populations than the rest so they are a slight majority but it is predicted over the coming decades that Catholics will become the majority of the North of Ireland and only a matter of time before we see a united Ireland. Irish culture and nationalism are growing stronger in the North and the old unionist view of the south being a country ruled by the Catholic church is now fading as the North and South are both modern secular and both enjoy western culture. Hell we even have Protestants and former unionists joining Sinn Fein in recent years, who would have predicted that in the past!

• ToryTory | Oct 15, 2012, 07:09 AM EDT

  Where's the substance? This is mere rhetoric to pander to an American audience. There's absolutely no evidence whatsoever an increasing appetite for unification in NI. On the contrary, polls suggest a leveling of support for unification amongst Catholics. The most recent poll from last year put the figure at 73% for those wishing to remain a part of the Union (Catholic & Protestant alike). The fastest growing identity in Ireland, since 2000, is 'Northern Irish'. NI is laying the groundwork for a post-sectarian home nation of the UK. To be blunt, it's more likely Ireland will rejoin the Union than NI seceding to join the ROI.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 15, 2012, 06:29 AM EDT

  Geopgraphy-of-scale predicates politics! The most amicable compromise is a provincially devolved island of Ireland, mutually associated with a devolved island of Great Britain. Associate membership of the Commonwealth of Nations might well prove to be the cultural safety net that Ulster unionists need to encourage them to walk the constitutional tightrope into a united Ireland. For how can a unionist party be democratic about a neo-provincial statlet which was the very antithesis of democracy - ie gerrymandered? How can a unionist party name itself after a province, 3 of whose counties they rejected for being too Catholic? How can one be a true unionist when the union they seek to uphold was brought about by the constitutional sleight-of-hand of bribes and peerages. True democracy is inconsistent with imperialism. The currently constituted UK (sic) is not unlike the Titanic whose over tightened hot rivets caused its catastrophic demise. Sometimes it makes sense to loosen the constitutional screws. And with recent oil finds in the Irish Sea, we may well be able to afford a united Ireland. Unless the banksters and political cronyism sabotage a nation once again.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 15, 2012, 06:09 AM EDT

  Could Taoiseach Ó Cíonnaith's constitutional prevarication be a case of England's opportunity being Ireland's difficulty? With the involuntarily United (sic) Kingdom currently negotiating constitutional downsizing and rationalisation, Kenny is understandably resistant to Cameron's proposed debt transfer of Ulster's subsidy given the state of the 26 county proto-republic's economy apres the banksters! Ex-British Prime Minister Sir Edward Lord Heath allegedly 'threatened' Taoiseach Seamus Ó Loingsigh with a united Ireland in the early 1970s, (as Sir Winston Lord Churchill did during The Emergency of WWII - if Ireland didn't enter the war effort on the side of the allies). De Valera (devil Éire?) declined the dreary spires of Fermanagh and Tyrone then. And Kenny seems a tad reluctant now. Anglo-Irish British peer Lord Palmerston's quote is apposite: "England has neither eternal friends nor eternal enemies. She only has eternal interests!" When it comes to shovelling endless subsidies into the bottomless pit of Irish partitionism, the British Exchequer will almost assuredly act in the eternal interests of the tax free off-shore investments of their political elite in the Caymen Islands.

• IrelandNorth | Oct 15, 2012, 05:32 AM EDT

  Ireland isn't two countries - Taoiseach! It's one country artificially divided by dint of historical peculiarities. Unless by two countries he means the currently constituted involuntarily United (sic) Kingdom of Great Britain (England & Wales and Scotland) and Northern[ised] Ireland. Long fingering unity Irish isn't prudent. This decade of centenaries is opportune, with absolute deadline by 2022.

• jacersagain | Oct 14, 2012, 11:10 PM EDT

  (…more) Any Nth Ireland person of closed and sworn biblical-thinking Scottish descendency needs only to look at themselves in the mirror to see the marks and promontories of in-breeding, and, sadly, of mental illness arising out of it. That is what the future whole of Ireland has to look at and see in a whole new light of the goodness of God’s gift to understanding. Scotland is right to seek independence from the Queen of England’s dominion, like Ireland did over many hundreds of yrs and struck a final strike almost 100 yrs ago. What the anti-UK, Dutch-religion believing people of Scotland and their fellow anti- Irish UK-stickies decide on is a matter for, not just themselves, but for everybody. Look at yourselves in the mirror. Like our Taoiseach Kenny says, United, Ireland will become. Eventually. How our good neighbours in the Nth of Ireland respond is a mass responsibility of themselves, of themselves alone, of them being, in Irish, "Sinn Féin".

• jacersagain | Oct 14, 2012, 11:02 PM EDT

  (…more) The population of Scotland (5 Mln) will be immeasurably enhanced by about 1.5 Mln Nth Irl Scottish descendants with their mass arrival back into Scotland and will be rewarded financially, hugely worth their uprooting efforts through the rewards of a future Govt of Scotland will offer them in the country of their original family’s right of inheritance. *excuse me while I have slight cough* - Their UK’s Majesty’s govt is not incapable of the mass organisation of mass repatriation, same as for its non-inability to repatriate Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, Australian, New Zealand and other UK ex-imperial bleeders oftheirempire. I believe it will be to the UK’s benefit, if they’re smart enough. ...Arrgh, that’s not going to be possible for Nth Ireland or Scottish people – they’ve been sexually abusing and in-breeding with each other for too long. As a proof, as in other European in-bred communities, I offer that you just look, on Nth Irl TV news presenters and, if you take time out to watch and study as I have, in the shopping streets you walk through, at their Nth Irl population’s close-nosed cross eyes, just for starters (as a charitable exercise, let’s not mention other in-bred factors). (more…)

• jacersagain | Oct 14, 2012, 10:54 PM EDT

  Of course there’s going to be an inevitable re-uniting of this Irish island for us Irish people, just like there’s going to be a re-uniting of the dispersed Scottish peoples’ Diaspora. There have been many instances in European history whereby dispersed peoples who belong to a certain origin of people have repatriated themselves to their own native home, to the shires, counties, provinces and countries and all that they believe in (rightly or wrongly, in the thinking of their own, or of that others, gone past RIP). Now that there’s a forthcoming referendum on Scottish Independence from the disintegrating United Kingdom, would not those in Nth Ireland who are descended of Scottish hereditary not just up roots from the land that they are, in truth, untitled to be living in, please get up, uproot and go home to Scotland, the land of their true forebears, and start a new life under their privileged right to be Scottish and be part of Scottish Independence? Let me offer a ‘why’ … (more…)

• curtisjohnson | Oct 14, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT

  The terror state will never allow it with or without the consent of the voters involved - witness the large MI5 moonbase they built in the statelet after the GFA swindle.

• seanomelb | Oct 14, 2012, 06:19 PM EDT

  Enda fawning to an Irish American audience!! Maybe he is looking for the nationalist vote LOL.

• brendan gillen | Oct 14, 2012, 05:47 PM EDT

  Peace in the north of Ireland at any price. Peace is the main thing. Peace is everything. I was in Belfast back in 74 and it was scarier than Dublin on paynight.

• kubs | Oct 14, 2012, 05:45 PM EDT

  Yup! And GB will lose Free Scotland ,too.

• aloistmartin | Oct 14, 2012, 05:25 PM EDT

  Like Kerry Dairy, Guinness Beer, Corned Beef and Cabbage, The Boston Celtics ... Eh, Mr. Kenny ? Let there be no mistake; Edna Kenny`s mitigationist placator bourgeois Politicking, serves but one purpose: The estrangement of Conservative Catholic, and Leftist Revolutionary Political Partisanship ! ( Sectarianism, Sinn Fein ? )

• Curitiba | Oct 14, 2012, 04:34 PM EDT

  Happyhippo: It might be a "shotgun wedding" if the tsunami of cash that flows to NI is interrupted by austerity measures. You might say the the people in the rest of Britain are your "kith and kin" but I think they would have to go back as far as the settlement of America to find any common ancestry. Given the choice between a free NHS and free education for their children, or NI remaining part of the UK at all costs, I think I know which they would choose. Added to this the rapidly changing demographics of the UK, people who have no historical link to Ulster and the number of people in favour of Scottish independence the case for the Union is becoming increasingly tenuous as time goes on.

• Happyhippo | Oct 14, 2012, 04:20 PM EDT

  As Paisley explained some years back when interviewed on the topic of a united country, before there is a marriage there is an engagement, and before that there is a courting process that must be adhered to,but first we must take a shine to one another,at present i would say the chances of all three are pretty slim.

• Gearoid4 | Oct 14, 2012, 02:24 PM EDT

  @Spartacus Your analysis is flawed in a number of respects- a)the Republic of Ireland is 90 years-but what's a decade her or there. It was carved out of a partitioned country in 1922. The South initially was given dominion status within the British Empire but declared itself a republic in 1949. b)Your description of the differences between the two jurisdictions on the Island as akin to those between Russia and the US defy belief. They are alike in some many respects, ethnicity, social attitudes and mores that they are practically one people. The border destroyed natural hinterlands like south Fermanagh/south Donegal/north Leitrim and south Armagh/north Monaghan(once known as Oriel) and left economic and social wastelands in it's wake. b) The Catholic church has lost a lot of it's influence and power in recent decades for various reasons and the protestant minority enjoys full equality in all spheres of life down there. c) The centenary of the recent Ulster Covenant celebrations marked a high point in the unionist-tory alliance which opposed the 3rd home rule bill. But today, we are in a very different situation. The tories do not perceive the northern state with the same degree of interest and are rather indifferent to it, and pay more attention to affairs in the English home counties. Also the configuration of the UK could change with an independent Scotland in prospect in 2014. Also the demographics are changing markedly in favour of the nationalist Irish population in the north d) Some might be content to write off an United Ireland, but events could bring it right back into contention again. A partitioned Ireland proves that a house divided ultimately defeats itself.

• Curitiba | Oct 14, 2012, 02:20 PM EDT

  The 1912 covenant is only "written in blood" for as long as we are paying for your 100-year party in England. The British taxpayer is working his butt off to keep you all in the style to which you have become accustomed, you don't want to be questioned on whether your cultural practices are acceptable in the 21st century multicultural UK and you want us to keep handing over the billions for nothing in return. After a few generations, British people in Australia, America, Canada and elsewhere took the bold step and made the break from Britain and formed their own country and created their own economies. But NI refuses to take any responsibility for itself, refuses to compromise in any way with its neighbour and expects us to finance that. Well the day will be coming soon when England says NO!

• sparticusnorth | Oct 14, 2012, 01:44 PM EDT

  the republic has moved on in the last 100 years, it has as much likness to the north as russia and the usa, travel across meath and cavan theres no connection , neither do the south or its people want us ever, a referendum in the north would give a resounding no, especially by catholics born on the nationalist side , the roman catholic church will never ever ever be a pill that protestants will swollow ,and most catholics dont practice it now either, the 1912 covenant was signed in blood then and it has flood because of the percieved threat of it ever since , the united ireland myth has gone forever ,and nationalists have no voice in opposition to the north ,as they have joined the thatcher cabinet in building the northern state stronger than it ever was. done deal and we all know it now.

• Rebelforce | Oct 14, 2012, 01:16 PM EDT

  Nothing new here from the bumbling, typical Irish free state politicians. Lip service to an aspiration, a wish, a hope, for a United Ireland.....someday, maybe, hopefully, "but not likely in the near future".

• seamus60 | Oct 14, 2012, 12:47 PM EDT

  IrishRyan. Ive yet to hear any republican call the six counties Northern Ireland. We call it the North of Ireland. Northern Ireland is what the brits call it cause they believe they own it. Are you a shinner by any chance.

• IrishRyan | Oct 14, 2012, 12:38 PM EDT

  A United Ireland will happen, within the next 20-30 years. I am from Northern ireland or the six counties as we republicans and Irish nationalists call it and a United Ireland is desired in all the counties of Ireland. Its ann ambition held by the Irish people for centuries, to have one island, one country under Irish rule. If it wasnt for the illegal and undemocratic partition of Ireland, this goal would have been achieved decades ago.

• slainte9 | Oct 14, 2012, 12:20 PM EDT

  Anyone in the South of Ireland who wants to be united with the North of Ireland is out of their mind. Besides you're all part of the European Union now. Declare victory and move on to being the capital of off-shore finance, IT shops, and the world's best B & Bs.

• seamus60 | Oct 14, 2012, 12:11 PM EDT

  Not likely to happen in the near future has had the NEAR in it knocked well back and allows him to use such termonoligy as 2 countries by his own doing. Wheres articles 2 & 3 when you could have been doing with them. But hey it always sounds good to any American audiance and can be repeated with no end. He`s catching on and learning a thing or two from Adams.

• Gearoid4 | Oct 14, 2012, 11:41 AM EDT

  @Seanmor, Dual Monarchy was an idea mooted by Sinn Fein during the early part of the 20th century when Arthur Griffiths was the leader of the party. His model was based on the Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian constitutional arrangements, but one wonders if that would be a suitable paradigm to apply to any future political arrangements with these Islands. Britain as it presently stands, may not exist in years to come. What if Scotland decides to go for the independence route after the outcome of the constitutional referendum there in 2014? The ramifications of that will be interesting. I think than an independent, united Ireland with links to Britain, but not part of any constitutional arrangement with that entity would be the best course of action. Taoiseach Kenny's perspectives start and end with the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland, and his ideal wish would be for the continuance of that state in it's present form as long as possible, in line with Fine Gael state ideology.

• Gearoid4 | Oct 14, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT

  @Seanmor, Dual Monarchy was an idea mooted by Sinn Fein during the early part of the 20th century when Arthur Griffiths was the leader of the party. His model was based on the Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian constitutional arrangements, but one wonders if that would be a suitable paradigm to apply to any future political arrangements with these Islands. Britain as it presently stands in years to come, may not exist in years to come. What if Scotland decides to go for the independence route after the outcome of the constitutional referendum there in 2014?. The ramifications of that will be interesting. I think than an independent, united Ireland with links to Britain but not part of any constitutional arrangement with that entity would be the best course of action. Taoiseach Kenny's perspectives start and end with the jurisdiction of the Republic of Ireland, and his ideal wish would be for the continuance of that state in it's present form as long as possible, in line with Fine Gael state ideology.

• Joe Kelsall | Oct 14, 2012, 11:35 AM EDT

  Enda Kenny's prediction is inevitable. I would like to see a united Palestine in the not too distant future.

• TayandCake | Oct 14, 2012, 11:25 AM EDT

  Will IC stop writing articles like this, you only had one last month and probably the month before that and so on. Get over yourselves.

• Seanmor | Oct 14, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT

  Most people seem to think that Irish reunification means that the country's NE region come under the jurisdiction of the Dáil. The fact is that under the present circumstances not even a majority of Northern Nationalists wish to be ruled by Dublin. At the same time, many Unionists may consider reunification under conditions that would be favorable to them: A united Ireland with very close ties to G.B., a nation with whose people most Irish have very much in common. One is now reminded of Dual Monarchy, the plan proposed by Sinn Féin's founder, Arthur Griffith, about a century ago. Dual Monarchy would provide a government for for All-Ireland that would recognize the English monarch as its head. Taioseach Kenny mentioned Reunification merely in response to a uestion; he would never initiate such a process.

• bobby | Oct 14, 2012, 09:48 AM EDT

  Most people in England want rid of Northern Ireland. It costs to much. The only people in the UK that want to keep the north part of it is the British National Party and it's very few supporters. A party despised by the majority in england, scotland and wales. The Scots look like they will have Independence to very soon. Lets have a United Ireland also......

• Gearoid4 | Oct 14, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT

  Correct, Wexfordman. The current jurisdiction called "northern ireland" does not even consist of the full 9 counties of Ulster, but a truncated 6. The best that we can call it would be a region, which is currently under the rule of a foreign power. A proper country was partitioned in 1922 and there is no getting away from it.

• Wexfordman | Oct 14, 2012, 09:11 AM EDT

  Not two countries the north is only province. When theres a united Ireland we will be taking back 6 occupied counties.