Northern Ireland... How can the British justify owning it in this day and age?

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greenorlagh

Britain doesn't 'own' anything. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, same as Scotland, England and Wales. It has been agreed within the Anglo Irish Accord that the people of the north can vote for their destiny in the future.

I don't know what religion has got to do with it...why do you bring up Catholic and Protestants?

Don't tell my boss I'm on here

Britain does not 'own' Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom and will remain so until a majority vote otherwise.

There will be a United Ireland when the people of Northern Ireland call for it.
Likewise I imagine there will be a Scottish Republic at some point in the distant future as there appear to be more and more people calling for independence.

But the idea of a United Ireland will not happen for many years as we have only just achieved an uneasy peace and we, the residents of Northern Ireland, do not want any more unrest, which this topic would surely cause.

Ian M

Britain doesn't own Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom because the majority of the population want it that way. Religion is not relevant as all religions have a vote.

Ian M

Hello

They don't. The British couldn't care less about keeping Northern Ireland. The people still want to be a part of the UK though.

btw - even if catholics/ republicans became a majority and Ireland gets its 6 counties back, do you really think that the loyalist communities would just accept rule from Dublin? The UVF/ UDA would be doing to southern Ireland what the IRA were doing to Ulster & Great Britain all those years ago.

Like a Fox

Britain doesn't own the North, it remains part of the UK because it is actually more beneficial for it to do so.
As a matter of interest do you even live in the North let alone Ireland?

Guillaume D

for gods sake.micheal collins and co had enough trouble as it is to get the brits out of the south.and your asking for more? there is now peace in the north,and all you people can preoccupy yourself about is why the british justify owning it.you are like a child angry because an other child has your toy..peoplen live in northern ireland peacefully now.no matter what religion they are so stop being so selfish and think about the hardwork and sacrifice it took collins to rid the south of the brits

Eddie F

Here goes..

The British government would give their right arm to give the six counties back. It has become a millstone around their necks. The north has always been dogged by high unemployment, against a backdrop of near all out civil war.

The British are obliged to pay for a free public health service for everybody living within the 6 counties, to pay 100% for the massive security that goes with the territory, to pay all aspects of welfare for the unemployed, low income earners, housing assistance etc.. etc..

If the British pulled out of Ireland, you would have an Israel / Gaza strip, tit for tat war on your hands.

The other side of that coin is - If the British could off load the 6 counties back to the Republic, almost overnight, Ireland would be financially crippled, Ireland could not support the 6 counties as an independent state - fact!

Love them, or hate them, we cannot survive without the British picking up the tab for the north!

Ps. I am an Irishman, who still dreams of a united Ireland. Like the saying goes : becareful what you wish for...

slipstreamer

N. Ireland is the UK, it isn't owned per say, and is haltingly under self rule; power sharing government. Like the west bank - peace is a good thing. Start with that. At least things are calm and people are able to live their lives.

It is up to the populace to decide.

dixie

That's a strange question to be asking now, when we have an agreed government in N.I. especially when the first minister and deputy first minster are from the both extremes of the political spectrum. I for one never thought i'd see it happening in my lifetime ! Also, the Irish government gave up their aspirations on their claim for our wee country.The British don't own N.I. We the people from "both sides" have voted to stay part of the U.K.
I am born and bred in N.I. and proud to be a British citizen, and until there is a democratically elected vote that says otherwise that is what i'll stay.

Joe B

I don't know why people keep talking about majorities. the number of unionists and nationalists are too close for it to be fair to say a majority of one camp is all you need to decide who's right.

However, while the number of unionists is only slightly higher than the number of nationalists, when you add in the number of nationalists who enjoy rolling around in HM's lovely benefits you have a clear consensus: the north wants to remain a part of the uk, with the proviso that half it's inhabitants may whine about that fact while mocking the 'redneck' south.

I won't repeat the well made point about the north being an economic basket case, but the current solution is the only viable one. there will never be a solution that everyone is happy with, especially one which satisfies our desire for a united island. the best we can hope for is that some day we have a fiscally independent north with a new generation who weren't raised on stories of michael collins and william of orange and can get on with complaining about everything like only a nordy can, bless them!

alan m

So strange. Thats like saying the British own Wales, England etc. The British are Northern Ireland like they are Wales, Scotland and England. They dont own it. Its free. Yes the increasing number of catholics want to remain British so its all become more British in numbers. " our " six counties you say. They were never your counties unlike the Republic which used to be "ours" as in British. The last referendum showed 92% wish to stay British. The rest were not sure. Your questions is very strange.

eva m

That's a good question. I live in the south and I've always been very patriotic, I loved learning about Irish history in school. I think it is stupid for the British to want to own a piece of Ireland, to me that is like someone taking over a part of India and calling it france. It just doesn't make sense, it's a different island.
However, it's been so long now that I wouldn't condone any fighting over the land whatsoever. The people who live in Northern Ireland have a right to live wherever they call home. And if they want to call home Britain then so be it. It's not important anymore. Shame though.

Tid

The lads are right. I think it was the Good Friday agreement wherein they said that whenever both parties, i.e. North and South agree to take back the North, it woud happen....or was that the Lisbon treaty? either way, we haven't asked, nor have they.

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