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TOPIC: Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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In an effort to help the restoration of devolved government, the PMs of the UK and the Republic of Ireland will be in Belfast today.
One of the stumbling blocks is the Irish language - which is spoken by a small minority in the Republic, and by an even smaller one in NI.
Sinn Fein insist on a role for it in NI governance; the DUP have absolutely no interest in it.
The likely outcome is a fudge - such as in the EU; where all legislation is translated into Irish and sent to Ireland, at great expense.
Only to be shredded because no-one is remotely interested in reading it - and certainly not in Irish!
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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After 5pm - and no power sharing deal yet.
The presence of Varadkar and May in Belfast seemed to suggest that progress had been made.
But it's still 'up in the air' - and might not happen.
With negative ramifications for the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
And making a hard Brexit virtually inevitable.
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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Perhaps.
But there's been no NI government for over a year.
And lots of talking - and bickering.
Doesn't happen anywhere else in our United Kingdom.
Or in most other countries - to have part of it with no locally elected government...
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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JK2006 wrote:
I predict there will be a deal but later this week
You're probably right. Everyone seems to want it.
Even Gerry Adam's successor (after 34 years!) as Sinn Fein leader - MaryLou MacDonald.
The latter being in office only for a couple of days - her deputy is also new, and female.
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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Sinn Fein are insisting on a stand-alone Act in respect of the Irish language.
This would include the compulsory teaching of Irish in NI schools and bilingual road signs.
DUP has refused point blank - not least because only a handful, in NI, can speak the language!
Not an unreasonable stance - but one that will stimy devolution, and make Brexit harder and more difficult.
And could also delay it...
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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Absurd, perhaps.
But for Sinn Fein to expect the DUP to agree to all Protestant children learning Irish is pure folly.
This language was spoken by the IRA which (although disbanded) has many of its ex-members holding Sinn Fein seats in parliament, in the North and South.
Enniskillen, Omagh and numerous other atrocities were carried out by the IRA - with orders given in the Irish language.
This really irrelevant demand - which is essentially perverse - is holding back devolution, costing the UK Exchequer dearly and delaying Brexit.
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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Spee wrote:
Absurd, perhaps.
But for Sinn Fein to expect the DUP to agree to all Protestant children learning Irish is pure folly.
This language was spoken by the IRA which (although disbanded) has many of its ex-members holding Sinn Fein seats in parliament, in the North and South.
Enniskillen, Omagh and numerous other atrocities were carried out by the IRA - with orders given in the Irish language.
This really irrelevant demand - which is essentially perverse - is holding back devolution, costing the UK Exchequer dearly and delaying Brexit.
And that's what happened.
No Irish Language Act and no devolution.
Just another Brexit problem with NI run by civil servants from London.
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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You're correct - less than 3% of the population of the island of Ireland have any grasp of the language.
Of this figure (below 200,000), most - like the Sinn Fein leaders who are promoting it - have only a few words.
The language is only spoken regularly in small rural pockets; in the cities - Belfast, Dublin, Cork, Derry etc. - English is spoken by everyone.
And today's topic of conversation everywhere will be the Champions League games last night - just like in Birmingham and London...
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Re:Northern Ireland 6 Years, 2 Months ago
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Now that the DUP have again ruled out an Irish Language Act - and have requested that Westminster takes over the NI reins - it will now undoubtedly happen.
Because - it will be remembered - Ms May needs the support of the DUP's ten seats to stay in power. She now has nowhere to go, but to accept their wishes.
Inevitably, Brexit negotiations will be more complicated and torturous - with a hard border between NI and the Republic now more likely.
And a return to the days of cross border pig-smugling...
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