Sinn Fein leader calls for new border poll on a United Ireland

STEVENSTAR - are you 7 years old?

FUNNY HOW WHEN EVER I WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT GERRY ADAMS I HAVE TO COME ON HERE AND READ IT.... IM IRISH I LIVE HERE IN IRELAND AND I WAS BORN HERE ... BELIEVE ME GERRY ADAMS HAS ABSOLUTELY NO POLITICAL CLOUT OVER HERE AND IS NOT POPULAR... WE HAVE PEACE NOW IN THE YEAR 2012 AND ITS NO THANKS TO THIS IDIOT ... IF IT WERE POSSIBLE TO EXPORT HIM TO AMERICA OVER TO HIS REAL FOLLOWERS WHO HE PLAYS TO THEN ID SEND HIM OVER ON THE NEXT FERRY OR CARGO SHOW BECAUSE HIS NOTHING BUT A WASTE OF SPACE AND IS LIKE A BAD SMELL WHICH WONT GO AWAY ....

As the largest of three minorities in the currently constituted Northern Ireland (NI), those who identify as British only (40%) will sooner rather than later have to reconcile themselves with the other two minorities there - Irish only (25%) and Northern Irish only (21%) - totalling 46% (with 14% none/neither/not stated). (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NIS&RA) Household Survey, 2011). These quite probable 40% British unionists, (as a larger percentage of the Island of Ireland's population than they are of the Island of Great Britain's), need to ally themselves with a combined 25% Irish unionist and 21% Northern Irish secessionist to discuss terms of how to cohabit this beautiful Island that is our rightful inheritance proportionately. Rather than British culture being diluted in an Agreed Ireland (AI), it's existence can be enshrined in a renegotiated constitution at the convention they should be attending. A "... partnership of equals ..." (EIIR, Dublin Castle, 2011) between the British and/or Irish Isles, in a strategic (anglophonic) alliance within the European Union (EU), (and quite possibly back in the Commonwealth of Nations (CoN)), can underwrite British identity within a reintegrated Ireland. (NB European national flags (incl the British union flag) currently fly outside Dublin City Council (DCC) offices on Essex Quay for Ireland's EU Presidency, which should assuage fears of British unionists/loyalists outside Belfast City Hall.)

ReturnedYank. Adams makes a mockery with this at the top of his partys wish list. People going hungry and being put out of their homes should be at the top of any right thinking person or partys list. How much would any such poll cost whilst his party inflict cuts on the most vunerable in the North ? How much has his partys abuse of the system they have signed up to cost the tax payer last year ? We still have Nationalists being discriminated against at the hands of his party working in tandem with the DUP. We are ten years into a laughing stock of an education system since Martin got his hands on it. The one thing you can bet is that should any such border poll take place at this time loyalists will make sure to be heard, whilst a lot of Nationalists have lost all heart in who represents them and what differance their vote would really make. But one thing is for sure, should the poll come out bad for Nationalists, it would be used to invoke the status quo for a long time to come. Looks like Gerry is desperate to re affirm his long lost Republican credentials to the ever growing number of doubters.

Often I find myself defending Peter Robinson. In this case he is simply wrong. Adams succinctly explains the reason for the border poll. There has NEVER been a vote! So called polls by news services are irrelevant and most often the methodology is faulty. Also, a plebiscite or vote is the only democratic way to determine the will of the majority. Even if Adams does not get the vote, it remains in the public eye that there never has been a democratic vote regarding partition and/or reunification.

@mastersonjp "Most Catholics," as you put it, saw the thuggish flag protests and were reminded of what life in the North is like under Unionist rule. Claiming they will vote against re-unification is wishful thinking at best.

The shops in Belfast are empty over Christmas due to silly protests over flags. Most responsible leaders are trying to defuse the tension bu Adams come up with this gem to increase tension. Did he not read recent poll which found that most Catholics are against United Ireland