This is how it begins

[Osc]

After the Brexit vote NI should have been asked in a referendum which was most important to them, staying in the EU or the UK?

Long term I think Ireland will be re-united, should the RoI want it. Over time with changing demographics NI will want to reunite imo and if it brings peace why not? If the unionists could have written into law respect for their customs with goodwill surely it should be achievable?

NI voted 56% to stay in the EU but of course, lumped in with the overall UK vote, it didn’t matter.

Long term reunification yes, but not in my lifetime I would say. At the moment why would Ireland want to absorb Westminster dependant NI? Unionists have little respect for customs other than their own and I could not see that changing any time soon. They would be the minority in Ireland and while I have no doubt major consideration would be given to their traditions, I can guarantee they would not reciprocate. I am not sure if a younger generation of unionists would be more open minded, I hope they would, but not while Arlene et al are in power.

[Suff]

I think it takes more time than we have had, with peace, for enough young people to overwhelm the old hatreds.

Hence the need to tread carefully.

[Workingman]

The GFA has been in place since 1999 and in the intervening decades it has worked reasonably well. If there were reunification referendums and if they were passed (both sides must agree) it would take more decades for the dust to settle. A transition period might be needed with Dublin and Westminster working together. It would be hard work, but all is not lost.

[Suff]

I didn't think all is lost. I think that we could lose it if people think that it's all settled and they can just barge on and do what they want without considering the reactions.

Already we are seeing violence. It is a combination of what happened after Brexit and how Covid violations are being treated.

Anything which is on the back burner needs to stay there, the situation needs to be calmed down and then we can move on. Driving forward with the programmed changes in border rules, as if Covid never happened, is not the way to go. But it is going to go.

I see the assumption that 22 years is enough time to overcome all and it will just be a few remaining moaners who will be unhappy. But, in fact, it is both young and old who are causing trouble. Had it been 52 years, I would be comfortable. But it has not and the politicians can't assume it has been that long.

Slow and steady. That is what is needed and I can't see it being slow enough or steady enough. Hence trouble ahead.

I'd love to be wrong but it will only take a trail of small sparks to light the big one.