Changing Demographics: Studio Discussion

Mark Carruthers hosts a studio discussion with Kellie Armstrong (Alliance Party), Christopher Stalford (DUP) and Colum Eastwood (SDLP) on the changing demographics of Northern Ireland and the possible political impact.
Originally broadcast on BBC NI The View April 19th, 2018

[@kierangreene6714]

And its possible to be Northern Protestant and want a United Ireland!

[@Shane199416]

Buzzin' for reunification ❤️🤸🏼‍♀️

[@samuelrobinson1992]

The nationalist guy totally won that argument, he came across as so much more accepting!!

[@Dechieftian]

superb moderator ..

[@rowan1361]

Eastwood is superb. Intelligent, dignified and considerate. NI needs more leaders like him. Let's have the border poll.

[@chrislacey8776]

Christopher Stalford said he was born in 1983, looks way older!

[@NC-ck5oj]

Irish people would accept unionists to be part of a united ireland. that has been made absolutely clear.

[@PMMagro]

The Unionists are long since lost. The nationalists have never given up their goal but act in way that actually can make friends now-a-days, not just enemies. This clip is typical, the Union leader seems hostilewhile the nationalist guy is almost making friends with the studio host…

[@ZaszZulu95]

It's nice to see a productive conversation regarding the issue of joining the Republic vs staying in the UK. I would agree with Colum Eastwood and Kellie Armstrong that this isn't something that can be forced on people. It has to be given time and treated with the respect it deserves, with all the facts laid out unbiasedly before all the people of Northern Ireland so that everyone can make an informed decision, you can't just run head first, into a border poll and make people feel pressured. Speaking as an Irish citizen, if a 32-county Ireland were to come about and that Unionists felt as if they couldn't live in their country anymore then we as a nation have failed. No one should feel that they have to leave their homes because of who they're ruled by. Such things happen in dictatorships and places where freedom isn't high on the list of priorities. That's my two cents on the matter anyway.

[@eamonnmaccionnaith5761]

Very interesting debate, refreshingly mature.

[@tomasroma2333]

if unionist want to avoid an united ireland then they need to become less radical and stop acting like they are huge majority of Northern Ireland.

[@lee_Meehan]

The DUP's argument to everything is Sinn Fein! IRA!, classic case of avoiding hard questions. Look I'm from Donegal and we have a orange parade here every year, do i care? No! couldn't give a shit.

[@InterDimensionalLizard]

Mark Carruthers knows what he's doing.

[@irishblood8599]

I’m an American and a United Ireland is the right way to go because it’s history repeating itself with if you aren’t loyal to the queen or the union in this case you’re not a protestant when the Irish just wants a united nation that loves each other and will except you for who you are and what religion you are

[@concong4183]

Nice to see some civility on display; grown-up discussion. Pity, it took so long for the generations that have scattered to the four corners.

[@sunnyjoe66]

If the Country was United again then Life would go on just the same. People would still Trade between the Nth East six Counties and the rest of the Country just like it always has when the invisible Border was there. Most of our Chickens come from the Border areas Cavan Monaghan and the six County Border areas. There has been a big trade in Cattle and Pigs and Sheep between the South and the Nth East. Farmers travel to the Marts in Northern Ireland and the South and indeed a lot of Farming Folk also come from the UK to our Marts in the South and North. So the people of the Nth East six Counties have nothing to fear from the South. The people of the Nth East should take a few trips South to acclimatize themselves if they are nervous of us. Really we are all the same, they have more in common with us than they do with the UK.You are better off United with the South than stuck with the UK.

[@tonydecastro6340]

Stalford has not moved on...he's still living in the past.

[@mickgrant4262]

Im a Republican and i dont trust the Shinners im for a United ireland the Sooner the better for everyone!

[@malcolmcean]

It was nice to listen to this. For too long screeching like a banshee has passed for acceptable political discourse in NI. Foster's comments on leaving were strange. Good to hear this DUP guy is committed to making things work.

[@donnachamcgowan]

Religion is not the problem Sovereignty is Irish. . british occupieation is all people see majority of people on our island want a United Ireland. That is the way forward.

[@SnazzBot]

And you could also be a Protestant nationalist, cuts both ways .

[@bass7678]

Love hearing the word "ejitts"

[@michaelharrison5564]

Seems like one of the more likeable DUP members

[@SnazzBot]

The idea of anyone leaving in a united Ireland is sad, I see that it could be prosperous for all. British identities don't need to be extinguished they can still be celebrated and respected, but I feel Arlene Foster said she would leave to emphasize loyalist fears.

[@karstenschuhmann8334]

Replace Irish with British and the UK with the EU and Christopher Stalford makes a wonderful argument for remain.

[@andrewbrand2433]

Here was I thinking all along that "Unionist" meant total support for a Protestant only head of state in England. Silly me.

[@twist777hz]

I urge you all to check out Michael McIntyre's impression of the difference, as he sees it, in the Irish and Northern Irish way of speech. From this video it's clear he nailed it!

[@tomgreene6579]

Unionists must be welcome in a united Ireland if it comes sometime and can be financed....easily somehow...

[@reesekilbride136]

“I don’t think I could live here” then leave

[@robbie4084]

And its so ironic of Sin Fein. Who are always bashing the EU in the Republic, saying Ireland should leave, that they are now using the EU as a reason to Vote for a united Ireland, Complete hypocrites.

[@DMG118]

Votes for nationalist parties has risen in accordance with the birth rate of people in nationalist areas. Now we're close to a nationalist-majority, a nationalist party is close to becoming the biggest in NI. That's the only 'figures' to go off.

[@robbie4084]

Seriously how can he say he's not even a part Irish, he lives on the Island of Ireland, Yes he's obviously British more, so in definition he's British Irish, Not British Scottish, since it's the Island of Ireland

[@dashercronin]

Why politicise the situation. If ireland united tomorrow people in NI would still live next door to each other, Catholic, Protestant, Unionist, Nationalist just as they have done in the South for nearly 100 years. People would still own their homes, farms, businesses as they have done in the South. In fact most land ownership in the South is protestant owned, I believe. The Dublin parliament could do with an influx of Northern Ireland MP.s to ginger up proceedings, widen debate and devlop the country. The real issue for everybody is what would replace the billions in UK subsidies that currently prop up the Northern state? The current subvention figure is GBP 9.2 Billion, I believe. Westminster would be glad to get rid of that I am sure.The sectarian divide only serves people who wish to profit from a status quo and exclude democratic social issues from politics which suits many people and the politicians that serve them. Social Democracy is under attack again, in the US with Trump, in the UK with Brexit. The Right do not like social democracy: the rule of law, trade unions, workers rights, universal health care, environmental protection, education for the masses etc etc. This is why you have Tory MP.s baying at the moon and the Republican party in the US doing likewise. These same forces brought down a much maligned but really progressive Weimer Republic in Germany and unleashed Hitler and the Nazis on us all. The Alt Right are similar in intent and their tentacles can been felt in NI, the UK and the US with the likes of Steve Bannon, Nigel Farage and Jacob Rees Mogg carrying their banner spreading misinformation about the EU and democracy in general.

[@jensboettiger5286]

This sounds like a sulking child threatening to run away from home if he doesn't get another slice of pie.

[@johntracy1369]

A united ireland for all Catholic protestant and desenter

[@1000dannycawley]

Both sides forget Briton is majority Celtic, even England, North & Cornwall both islands should feel one at heart and in power off Eu & UK

[@robbiewright9145]

Is British Irish an option on the Census form?

[@johnpaulhughes6867]

get the boat

[@paddymccoy]

I totally agree with Christopher Salford about his take on Nationists and Unionists. Only in this mad land of ours Nationalists are actually Unionists and Unionist are Nationalists. SDLP and Sinn Fein believe in Uniting Ireland. A union of 32 counties a reunifaction of Ulster and a union of 4 provinces of Ireland. A free Ireland, a unified state of people were you can be black, white, gay or straight. You can even be British as it's your right. However the UUP and the DUP amongst others believe in imposing their culture and identity onto everyone in THEIR WEE COUNTRY - THEIR PROTESTANT STATE. They block anything that doesn't fit their agenda. So I am a Unionist and proud of it. For God and Ireland 🇮🇪

[@donnachamcgowan]

Ulster is not British It's irish Sovereignty is irish not british period. ...The kindom is not united never has been. ...

[@clayfada6993]

As regards social media .Cricket is the most searched for sport on social media after football in ireland thats how representative social media is and cricket is very much a minority sport.

[@joycejackson9315]

Lol. Well. in the end they all need to recall that Jesus is our Lord. I'm a catholic and my daughter too. her husband patrick is protestant we all get along here in the usa.

[@michaelkelleher862]

One solution would be that the island could be united and be an EU member and simultaneously become a member of the Commonwealth. This might allay Unionist fears and at the same time unite the island. Also Ireland could become a federal state with devolved governments in Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster. The central parliament could alternate on a biennial basis between Belfast and Dublin.

[@499PUCK]

The Unionist man thinks thinks Ireland will make the border choice about Brexit. The EU has over 20 countries that will vote to approve the exit accord. When it comes down to it the UK wants all of the good things from the EU but passes on the stuff they don't like. But they complain when the EU feels the same way. It might be even money that one of two situations happen. One is the whole Brexit idea falls away. Or two UK cuts NI adrift. This could be their own country or become part of RI.

[@clayfada6993]

I imagine if there was an united ireland belfast not dublin will be the capital not that will make any difference

[@donalr9742]

Nobody cares

[@Dubcel1]

You have less to fear from Dublin than from the Schinners. Then don’t represent Ireland especially the Republic. Sinn Féin would become irrelevant. Very few down here see things the way Sinn Féin do.

[@DafXF-mb4np]

Great to see the SDLP lose all their Westminster seats . They could have held onto South Belfast but wouldn't do a pact with Sinn Fein in F S Tyrone and N Belfast and are now just a West Brit joke . The humiliation of losing Foyle . OMG .

[@Isszarya]

British is an umbrella which you are scots welsh or english so at least your N Irish you just just cant be British makes no sense

[@TM-vw8nn]

I'm all for a united Ireland. But I will never vote for a united Ireland while it is in the European Union.

[@donnachamcgowan]

T M Then your vote doesn't matter. Period. ...

[@patrickokeeffe539]

Well the problem is many Irish are not happy being in the UK when it is not part of the EU. Simple they trust the EU and do not trust England. Hence Brexit is causing this problem, simple Brexiteers do no care about NI.