'Most Catholics want to stay in UK' says Northern Ireland's First Minister

IrelandNorth – Over 100% favour a united Ireland? That sure is great news.

Given that 33% of [Roman?] Catholic's in NI expressed a desire for a united Ireland, (The Irish News/Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey, 2010). And given that 69% of ROI respondents favour paying higher taxes to fund a united Ireland, (The Irish Times/Ipsos/MRBI Survey, 2012). Despite these polls being two years apart, does this not reperesent a 100% plus FOR a united Ireland in these straw poll in the 10th year of countdown to 2022? Partition costs the British (mainly English) taxpayer STG£30bn p/a, (approx STG£15,000 pps NI). A united Ireland would be more cost effective, (not least with a civically irresponsible 31% of current ROI taxpayers forced to pay their share). Perhaps our G8 paypals will have some serious petty cash to invest in Ireland Inc., relieving the British Exchequer of some serious maundy money.

Devolution does not mean opting out Of The U.K.. Listening to Robinson is stupid and same goes for McGuinness. Ulster is The U in the U.K... so without Ulster there is No U.K. Scotland has the correct idea.. go for Independence.. this can only lead to a reformed U.K. so that England will be secured from the makings of the likes Of the William Hagues who has made a total shambles Of assaying to take control of the Military. If England wants to sell out to the USA..; then let England do so but leave the Crown in Scotland.

Gee! redbranch yuor a bundle of laughs ignoramus

Most Palestinians prefer the status quo and like they way things are. How do I know that? A member of the Israeli government told me! This is another stupid IC story.

The 26 Vatican controlled statelet is a borderline 3rd World country again so who in their right mind would want to be part of that.

curtibia I could just as well say the benefits to the people in the Republic would be..? You can live by pride alone for about 60 days and thats proven

So we have the head of a political party (whose aspiration is to remain part of something) giving the membership the annual dose of feel good factor via such a speech. Hardly anything groundbreaking or new. I remember believing the same bull about a UI by 2016. As for Scotland, my opinion has changed to Salmon and Co since watching a documentary called "you`ve been Trumped" on BBC during the week. Everything and everyone is for sale.

curitiba: There is no benefit to the people of Britain. Red Branch just wanys that British dole money to keep coming!

RedBranch: So the benefits for people in Britain of having NI as part of the Union are...?

Rhodesian independence, that worked out well didn't it? Most of the people driving around the North in Range Rovers and suits are ministers in Stormont, many of them have guns too.

curitiba: Seems like a huge price to pay, to maintain some faded glory. I would like to think that the English people will wake up some day, and dump the place.(the north)

citizen: I know there is only one referendum question. However even if the vote is no, there will be a substanial yes vote that coupled with the no voters who would have voted yes for devo max if it was a second question. This will give the SNP a mandate for even greater independence than waht they already have. After that it will only be a matter of time before complete independence. Far from making the union secure, it will do the exact opposite. Once you start down that road,that (independence) will be the final destination. As far as me caring about the north? Well I do, as I firmly believe partiton was a historic injustice that ruined all of Ireland. Not to mention I hail from right on the border; Cavan/Fermanagh.

ancavker: norniron is a colonialist fantasy kept alive by mainland politicians who dream of the days they could ride around Rhodesia in a Land Rover and a safari suit and elephant gun, lording it over the natives until they were chucked out. They see the likes of Robinson and co lording it over the natives there and it gets the old juices flowing. Well worth the tens of billions for a ringside seat.Anglo-Saxon supremacy is a dirty word in multicultural Britain but norniron is the place they can live out their fantasies without any of that pesky political correctness or race relations laws.

@Citizen, The constitutional reverberations from a probable yes vote to the question of Independence for Scotland, will have a major impact on the political arrangements on these Islands. People can speculate about x number of years ahead concerning the fate of "northern ireland", but unionists complacently thinking that the so-called union is secure, will get a very alarming wake-up call. It is better that they seek genuine rapprochement with their nationalist neighbours, in anticipation of future arrangements in which they will be numerically a lot weaker than at present.