Irish Unification – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

What is BRITAIN?

The ‘Two’ Irelands

• The island of Ireland is divided between two political entities –

1. The Republic of Ireland – officially named Ireland
2. Northern Ireland – is part of the United Kingdom

1. 8 million live in the Republic of Ireland Capital – Dublin
2. 8 million live in Northern Ireland Capital – Belfast

Brief History of the ‘island’ of Ireland

• Following the 12th century Norman invasion,  England claimed sovereignty.
• However, English rule did not extend over the whole island until the 16th–17th century Tudor conquest, which led to colonisation by settlers from Britain.
• In the 1690s, a system of Protestant English rule was designed to materially disadvantage the Catholic majority and Protestant dissenters, and was extended during the 18th century.
• With the Acts of Union in 1801, Ireland became a part of the United Kingdom.
• A war of independence in the early 20th century.
• 1921- Partition of the island, creating the

1. Irish Free State, which became increasingly sovereign over the following decades. (Republic of Ireland- 1949)
2. Northern Ireland, which remained a part of the United Kingdom.

The Troubles-

• Northern Ireland saw  civil unrest from the late 1960s until the 1990s.
• The ‘Troubles’ claimed over 3,500 lives.
• Violence subsided following a political agreement – The Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The Recent change in politics of Ireland

• For most of the century since Ireland gained independence from Britain, control of the country has alternated between two parties.

1. Fine Gael (Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s party)
2. Fianna Fail

Taoiseach

Dáil Éireann

The Rise of Sinn Fein

• On February 8^th that duopoly was smashed apart, when Sinn Fein got the largest share of first-preference votes in the republic’s general election.
• The party has with links to the Irish Republican Army (IRA), which bombed and shot its way through the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
• It won with a left-wing platform that included promises to spend more on health and housing.

• Following an unexpected election triumph, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for a united Ireland, demanding a referendum on reunification within five years.

Brexit Vote 2016

Economic benefit for Northern Ireland

• The open border with the Republic of Ireland in the south(of Northern Ireland) facilitates annual exports worth 3.4 billion pounds ($4.4 billion).
• Hard Brexit would bring a stoppage to this – no more open border.

Reasons for calls of Unification

• Support for unification in Northern Ireland appears to have risen in recent years but it because of more than just Brexit.
•  Northern Ireland’s census in 2021 is likely to confirm that Catholics outnumber Protestants for the first time.
• The republic of Ireland has also become more welcoming.
• The influence of the Catholic church has faded dramatically and society has become more liberal.
• Over the past three decades restrictions on contraception have been lifted and gay marriage has been legalised.

In Most polls respondents show support for unification.

• Ultimately, it’s up to the British Government to call a border poll.
• Very little chance for such a move till conservatives are in power

When will unification take place?

• The momentum for a united Ireland could come to seem unstoppable.
• Sooner than later, it is bound to happen.(~10 years)
• What if British govt. never calls for a referendum?
• If the government in Westminster continuously refused to recognise that there was a majority in favour of unification in Northern Ireland, that could be

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