Introduction Should Scotland follow Ireland in becoming an independent country? The answer may lie in comparing the history and economy of our two countries and the prospects for the future. There seem to be a lack of knowledge in the UK in general and Scotland in particular regarding Ireland. Part I will concentrate on where… Read more
Category:
Ireland
Covering Ireland both North and South
The Withdrawal Agreement and Westminster
Introduction Now that we have a stabilised draft Withdrawal Agreement (WA), agreed by the EU 27 and the UK, there is effectively zero probability of altering the text significantly. It must be remembered of course that whilst the WA is just the terms of the divorce settlement, it is nonetheless a legally binding treaty. The … Read more
Liberté de Mouvement, la Paix en Irlande et la Dinde de Noël
“Freedom of Movement, Peace in Ireland and Christmas Turkey” Liberté de Mouvement -Freedom of Movement The summer of ’76 lives on in the English imagination as a gloriously hot summer. For me it was a Continental one, with a DAAD scholarship in Germany from June to mid September and at the end of the summer… Read more
Is No deal Worse for Ireland than the UK?
This question is important in so far as some elements in the Tory party and the DUP are hoping that Ireland and the EU will back down on the backstop at the last minute. The short answer is NO, but there may be some softening around the edges and creative language to make it more… Read more
Brexit Negotiation Outcomes using a Sankey Diagram.
Introduction With negotiations entering the final phase for the withdrawal agreement, there is immense speculation. The actual negotiations are being held in a “tunnel” and seem have been going on forever. I am reminded of a scene from an Ian Banks novel where the players have to play a valid game of Bridge, but are… Read more
Crunch time for Brexit Negotiations
Introduction I am against Brexit for many reasons, but my primary focus has, and always has been, the effect on Northern Ireland and the destabilising effect it will have on the island of Ireland, in terms of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process. I still very much hope Brexit does not happen and… Read more
Crash out and it will be visas for France
Although The Prime Minister urges our European colleagues to show “courage, trust and leadership“, it appears irony is beyond her. The French are not known for irony either and, whilst it seems to have been given little publicity, they have now outlined their plans for Brexit in the absence of any negotiated deal. It is… Read more
The DUP Tail Wagging the European Dog
Introduction For those of us who grew up on the island of Ireland the DUP and their political antecedents are a known, if unloved, quantity. I met the founding father of the DUP, Dr Ian Paisley, at Stormont in 1968 on a schoolboy civics trip from St Paul’s College Raheny Dublin. He was quite charming… Read more
Why is the UK rejecting the NI Backstop?
I seem to be obsessed with the border recently. I would love to get back to looking at new economics, Modern Monetary Theory, tax, the optimal balance between the public and private sector spending and the myriad other difficulties afflicting modern Britain. We are also way behind on Book of the Month so suggestions please!… Read more
Northern Ireland and the Humpty Dumpty World of Schrödinger’s Cats
Note: this article is a co-publication with the award winning Slugger O’Toole portal as the first in the Future Ireland series. ____________ Apparently you follow the rabbit down a hole and you emerge in a wonderland …. Ken Clarke – House of Commons “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful… Read more