Ian Paisley steps down

[irelandrocks2]

wish he'd never left.

he was a fine specimen of an ulsterman, and I for one would like to think that some day he'll be sitting in the dail.

[corpbs1]

Maybe one day all the poorest people in Northern Ireland will get the chance to put Paisley, the Unionists, Adams, McGuinness, the IRA and all the associated gangsters from both sides in a leaky boat, park it in the middle of the Atlantic, and sink it. Maybe then all decent people in NI, whether Protestant or Catholic, or non-religious, can have a decent life and future without being stood over by thugs.

[WARISHELL09]

A great man

[SuperGooseMan]

Mr. Paisley fought the Catholic terrorists for years. He was victim of numerous assassination attempts by them! He was and still is the man!

[ThomasMackinByrne]

@SuperGooseMan Their is, and never has been such a thing as "Catholic terrorists" idiot.

[littledaz123]

@ThomasMackinByrne No such thing as a Catholic who is a terrorist? Wow.

[ThomasMackinByrne]

@littledaz123 No, you must have read wrong, I said "catholic Terrorists", meaning a group of Catholics terrorising on behalf of their religion, not a single catholic who happens to be a terrorist. The IRA were not "Catholic Terrorists" they were Irish freedom fighters from all religions, Catholic or Protestant. Saoirse

[littledaz123]

@ThomasMackinByrne No, perhaps you read wrong. In English grammar the adjective comes before the noun and how do you not know that in this case, he was not using 'Catholic' as a noun? All the grammatical debate aside, it's easy to confuse what one means. It's easier to generalise the majority though, and the majority were undeniably Catholics. No doubt there were Protestant nationalists, just as there is Catholic loyalists. Just not a fat lot.

[ThomasMackinByrne]

@littledaz123 I'm fully aware that the IRA is predominately Catholic, but under no circumstances should they ever be addressed as "Catholic Terrorists". "Mr Paisley fought the Catholic Terrorists for years", now, what about this sentence isn't addressing them as such?

[littledaz123]

@ThomasMackinByrne It's a generalisation. Like I said, he got it grammatically correct. Catholic terrorists are different to Terrorist Catholics because of the positioning of the adjective before the noun, and in this case, Catholic is the adjective, in the same way that what you are actually referring to would be Terrorist Catholics since terrorist is the adjective. You blatantly don't understand your own language. Unless you are Irish, in which case it isn't your language, you just speak ours.

[ThomasMackinByrne]

@littledaz123 Mate, you literally just stole my whole argument, you are now arguing with me ....

[littledaz123]

@ThomasMackinByrne You can reply what you want to this, because I'm not going to. There is no point me further debating this with you. You obviously don't understand and it would be useless me arguing more with someone who doesn't know what they, or anyone else is talking about.

[ThomasMackinByrne]

@littledaz123 Koool :L

[Rentonboyo]

Ian Paisley brought an entire generation of Irish Republicans to madness with his bleating criticisms of the Nationalist community. Good Riddance to bad garbage.

[rangersrshameless]

good

[jmeenan1]

BEST THING HE EVER DID

[bigceltwarrior]

once again gerry and martin have seen of another unionists leader and everythings cross border now look back 20 years and see the change its moven towards a united ireland and there no point in saying any different it coming.

[GH169]

@bigceltwarrior coming when??? people have been saying that for years lol

[chigsee]

Good riddance to Ian Paisley. Denouncing Catholicism, calling the Pope the Anti-Christ is no behaviour of a First Minister and I'm not a Catholic.

Ian Paisley was power-hungry. He said "no" for 30 years to power-sharing where the major nationalist party was the SDLP. But the moment the DUP become the biggest party in the country, he says "yes" to power sharing where the main nationalist partner is the more hardline Sinn Fein. No wonder thousands of unionists have left the DUP for the TUV!

[PDrangers]

And the mask slips in remedy's last comment , you can see the true meaning of what the likes of him want in Ireland. "Game over for Huns" translates as "Prods out". People will be hurt , Scottish loyalists won't let our friends suffer alone. Many would answer the call :)

[turkey12345678987654]

I thought if he would step down, he would say Never Never Never

[DiarmaidGNR]

I hated the way Paisley always referred to ulster insted of northern ireland in his speeches.

[PatchesRips]

At least this time he referred to "Northern Ireland". After a lifetime of inciting people, it must be hard for him to swallow those instincts and talk about people working together and being reasonable and moderate...

[DiarmaidGNR]

Well said.

[snytaxx]

How can you say that? No one came out of NI with what they wanted... The PIRA got nowhere... the army got nowhere, the UVF got no where. Nationalists have have made comprimises, as have the unionists. Its game over for no one. And call paisley a prick all you like. But you have to admire him in the sense that he stuck to his guns and you always knew where he stood even if you disagreed with him. Boths sides have come a long long way... may a new peaceful NI prosper!

[remedy63]

I will never admire him. He supported loyalist sectarianism. The IRA forced political change of course they got somewhere. The forced britain to the table. The army never got anywhere because they couldnt defeat the IRA and loyalists got no where because all they ever did was murder innocent Catholics in their sectarian death squads bring more people to our cause.

[snytaxx]

The IRA aim was to drive out the British army through means of violence, not peace (that was sinn fein). The British government wanted peace, it was more then willing to talk to Sinn fein, but not willing to fold to terrorism. Its sinn fein who made the move towards peace. The there was no room for IRA violence anymore, so they disarmed... Also only 56% of catholics want a united ireland, while 85% of prots and 22% of catholics want to stay in the UK. Nationalis have a fair way till a majority..

[remedy63]

Yeah sure go by a collective poll that hardly anybody took including myself. Bring on a referendum on a united Ireland then well see some real figures. United Ireland marches up and down the country and world wide. It is likely Catholics/nationalists are in the majority and will have the overwhelming majority by the time of the 2011 census according to demographers.

[remedy63]

You will find that unionists will start to see that the future of this province is better served in a united country. Northern Ireland economy is not sustainable in the long run there is a need of an Island of Ireland economy. In about 10 years time when there is a referendum everybody will see how true that is.

[remedy63]

sinn fein are/were the political wing of the IRA. The good friday agreement was the british governments save face way out of the north. One that they had been looking for for some time. If it wasnt for the IRA forcing political change and sinn fein gaining political power. There would still be armed struggle today no question.

[remedy63]

Think about it this way how convenient was it for the provos to be able to hold onto there guns for as long as they wanted, 7 years, and to sit back and watch sinn fein rise to the top. Now power is being given back to the north and ultimately nationalists. We have more say now in the future of this Provence than ever before.

[snytaxx]

Just to keep the ROI economy alive in the 1970's tooks billions of pounds of investment by the EEC. Your also just assuming that unionists will want to leave the UK. You also forget that the ROI doesnt want NI anymore. Sinn fien are massarced in Irish elections and they withdrew their claim to the north when the Good friday agreement was signed. I dont oppposed a united through democratic means but there is still a way to go yet.

[snytaxx]

NI has a stupendous spending rate at the moment. much higher then England, yet its the English who pay for it. NI can spend as much as it likes and just tap into Englands strong economy. If a united Ireland were to occur the cost of living would go through the roof. no more government subsidies. The Economy of Ireland, also prospering is not strong enough to support NI spending rates.

[remedy63]

and the reason for that is the increase in cross boarder integration. Even the first minister said he was happy with that. Any fool can see that unity will benefit everybody. Give it up.

[snytaxx]

No unity wont, ok you can go around saying you defeated the british, you can spout as much nationalist dribble as you like. But after the subsidies stop coming in and public services suddenly become more expensive, people will start to moan. Not to mention to change over costs. two different currencies. It cost Germany a fortune, inflation rocketed. not to mention the high inflationary periods. Add that onto the ROI already above average inflation... I know it hurts but NI needs the union!

[remedy63]

The annual British "subvention" (the net financial support from central government) for Northern Ireland was estimated in January 2007 to be £6,000,000,000, the highest per capita amount in Europe. Outside of European Structural Funds, this amount would have to be met by the combined economy of a newly-united Ireland to maintain current living standards in the north of Ireland.

[remedy63]

In recent years Northern Ireland has experienced stronger Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the growth than the UK average and GDP per capita is now higher than Wales and North East England. As of 2007, the GDP per capita of the Republic of Ireland is €30,414 (141% of the EU-27 average) while in Northern Ireland it is €21,292 (99% of the EU-27 average)

[remedy63]

A simple calculation using 2004 GDP and population estimates gives a GDP per capita of €27,790 for the whole of Ireland (only 9% less than that that of the Republic of Ireland).

The structural costs of unification arent difficult to quantify.They are likely to be proportionately less than that of the German reunification due to the greater degree of economic integration that exists between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

[remedy63]

the British and Irish governments announced that they were re-designating the borders for travel purposes. Travel between North and South is now considered domestic travel, while travel from Britain to any part of Ireland, including the North, is now considered international travel. The airports have been instructed to adjust their security systems accordingly.

[snytaxx]

I dont know where you heard this but travel to NI still counts as domestic flight. I took a flight to NI less then a month ago. Even thought NI and the ROI are coming closer together its unlikely that the big step of constitutional hand over will occur until a referendum. The government doesnt even expect the issue to crop up again till 2025. There is little use debating over this issue. We both know where each other stands. Only time will tell, no matter how many Youtube videos you make.

[remedy63]

If you were paying atention you would realise that what i said was that "the British and Irish governments announced that they were re-designating the borders for travel purposes. Travel between North and South is now considered domestic travel, while travel from Britain to any part of Ireland, including the North, is now considered international travel." Air lingus flights now go from belfast. Where did i hear this? the BBC news. You should check it out sometime lol

[remedy63]

The amount of north south integration is demolishing the need for a boarder at all. It benefits the whole island and makes more sense at the end of the day for an Island of this size of have one economy. You cant deni this.

[snytaxx]

Its a great thing that the North and the South are integrating. They are certainly intregrating well politically and in the world of sport. But not economically. They operate two completly different sets of currency. Constitutionally they are different too. Im glad that there are all island schemes set up, its important that the North interacts with the South. But at the end of the day its not up to me, its up to the people of NI, they want to stay with the union, so be it.

[remedy63]

Thats my point. Uniting the country is the best thing for the province economically. You cant deny that. I mean you can and you prob will but it dosnt make it any less true.

No the people of the north of Ireland dont want the union. I would have thought the troubles would be sufficient enough to make you realise that. Youl see soon all those ulster scots will start to see the way forward. Tiocfaidh ar la!!

[snytaxx]

I do deny that. NI will be no better off as part of the ROI then it is at the moment. And the people of the North quite clearly do not want the union. The troubles werent everyone NI fighting the government. It was a third of the people in NI fighting the government. And you still wont explain why the ulster scots are just suddenly going to wake up one morning and go "you know what? lets have a united Ireland!" Let time be the judge of NI. God Save the Queen!!

[remedy63]

are you stupid? It wont become part of the ROI we are going to become part of a united Ireland with a new all Ireland government. At least you can agree with me on that time will show the truth. The united kingdom is crumbling. The benefits in the long term on an island of Ireland economy greatly out way the benefits of the union.

[snytaxx]

Time will show the truth. A united ireland would mean all of Ireland becoming a bigger ROI. I doubt it would change its name even if it did it would still be constitutionally against the UK. This kingdom isnt crumbling. There is a comfortable majority of unionists in Scotland and NI! Wales isnt even calling for independence at all. There will be a UK for centuries!.

[remedy63]

Dont be so fucking naive lol Your letting your biggoted ways cloud your judgement. A united Ireland is for Catholics and protestants. Remember you live in Ireland not britain. Britian is that island across the water. The union is an invisible line and so is the north south boarder.

[remedy63]

both the Irish and British governments are creating a number of all-island bodies and services, such as the all-island electricity network, the all-island gas network. Not only services, but also governmental bodies such as The Loughs Agency, Waterways Ireland, InterTradeIreland and the North/South Ministerial Council, have been set up; with more planned for the near future.

[remedy63]

Recently, politicians have called for there to be an all-island corporation tax of 12.5% (currently the Republic's corporation tax - the lowest in the European Union), in order to boost Northern Ireland's economy. Other politicians have called for an all-island telecommunications network, especially within regard to mobile phones.The Irish government are currently investing over €1 billion in Northern Ireland as well, especially in the West, around Derry.

[remedy63]

Investments include upgrading City of Derry airport (at a cost of €11 million), building a Letterkenny/Derry-Dublin motorway or high-quality dual carriageway, reopening the Ulster Canal, and improving cancer services in the region for those in the region itself, but also people from County Donegal in the Republic.

[snytaxx]

Ireland doesnt have to be united for these developments to take place. The UK government can upgrade City of Derr Airport. A joint UK, ROI government can build a new motorway! Stormont can lower corporation tax to 12.5%. even still it would make a marginal difference. Companies would still register there companies in tax havens to avoid paying altogether!

[remedy63]

No but the uk isnt is it its the ROI and its not strengthening ties with the uk its strengthening ties with the ROI. It will come to the point when the UK will be a pointless union.

[snytaxx]

Me naive? Your the one who just assumes that unionists in NI will suddenly want a united Ireland. They have resisted for almost two centuries, there no just going to swap sides like that.

[remedy63]

No i dont assume that ALL unionists but i know that many will because it is the more practical and profitable decision to make for the future of this province. Not everybody is as close minded as you.

[remedy63]

Also, a large, modern suspension bridge is being built between Co. Down and Co. Louth, which will effectively connect Co. Down with the Republic. The Irish government has put up 14 million Euros for the project.

A united Ireland is being created through integration. These days its lookin like the union between north and south is getting stronger and stronger. Like i said the uk union is dieing.

[snytaxx]

again You dont have to unite Ireland to do any of these things! Constitutionally NI is as strong as ever. Just because there is higher integrations doesnt mean a crumbling UK. Its like me saying the economy of ROI is suffering from above average inflation. Doesnt mean the WHOLE economy is collapsing does it?

[snytaxx]

Its a great thing that nationalists are included (and hold power) in Stormont. But its not the full goal (a united ireland). the IRA also damaged the the nationalist cause as much as they helped it. Altho keeping NI in the political spotlight. More resources and money were poured into stamping them out then to making political change. Also the economy of NI is sound and very sustainable.

[remedy63]

Why even keep arms at this point when all Sinn Fein has to do is to wait for nationalist population to overwhelm unionists which is going to happen in few years if it hasent already..... Both partys have agreed by signing the good friday and saint Andrews agreements that a united Ireland will come about if the majority votes for it....

[remedy63]

Disarming dosent show the IRA's defeat but rather their victory that they no longer have to use the arms to achieve what they sat out to achieve. The future of this province is better served in a united Ireland

[richiefirefly]

Happy retirement big man, I met you a few times and if people dont like your politics, they cant say that you arent an ordinary witty true gentleman!