BERTIE'S DREAMS...
Friday, November 21, 2008 at 07:46AM 
You have to admire the impudent cheek of former Irish PM Bertie Ahern, he who left office in financial disgrace, when he ponders that a "united Ireland"could not be achieved by a simple majority poll in favour of constitutional change. Ahern pontificates that 50% plus one in favour of unification would not work. He argued that “a sizeable amount of people” north and south would be required to move to a united Ireland.
What a hoot.
For starters, I thought the Belfast Agreement secured the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK? I mean that what the DUP axis of evil tell us. Don't tell me it is just a staging post, Bertie? Second, it is a matter for the people of Northern Ireland ONLY as to their constitutional future. The idea that the people of the Republic could have some say in it is risible. Why should they? - it is a foreign country. Third, it is clear time and time again that the overwhelming majority of people in Northern Ireland are happy to remain BRITISH so Bertie's musings may be amusing but that's about as far as they go. How about the Republic voting to become part of the British crown again, I am prepared to accept it would have to be more than 50% +1.
Mind you, when it comes to majority opinion, I also note that Bertie has a problem with a MAJORITY of the people of the Irish Republic rejecting the Lisbon Treaty. Why is it that sometimes even a majority vote can be ignored, Bertie? A cute hoor is the order of the day, and indeed a likeable one at that - but he will not get a free pass on ATW.
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Reader Comments (3)
David,
I think Unionists open themselves to ridicule when they characterise the Republic as a foreign country... obviously it is technically a foreign state, but the notion of a thing called Ireland has not disappeared from northern life, and the idea that it has is so ridiculous that is it is not even worth talking about. This is all the more true in the last 10 years or so. I think the name of the place "Northern Ireland" gives the game away...
"Second, it is a matter for the people of Northern Ireland ONLY as to their constitutional future"
The residents of the Republic have a right to vote on their own constitutional future also. You seem to have forgotten that unity involves constitutional changes for two states. Nothing to be annoyed about.
Dub,
The reference was tongue in cheek ;-)
Mack,
Fair point. But B-B-Bertie is still an impudent hoor.