What is the future for Northern Ireland

I understand that Northern Ireland voted in the EU Referendum partly according to Religion - Catholics in the main voted for Remain while many Protestant Unionists voted for Brexit.

Younger, and Middle Class Protestant Unionists voted for Remain.

The Protestant Unionists are largely historically Ulster Scots, and have more affinity with Scotland than England.

When Scotland becomes independent, will NI follow suit, or want to join Scotland, or will they try and Unite with Eire?

IANTO
 

The Agrarian

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northern Ireland
There is currently little real interest in NI in leaving the union. We now have devolution of a sort. If we joined the republic of ireland, devolution would have to stay in order to keep the peace, as the Anglo-scots here would not accept a direct rule from Dublin. Can dublin afford to pay the block grant we currently receive? Very much doubt it.

The Scots here are predominantly unionist in their outlook, despite sharing a common Scottish dissenting background. And the irish, for all the Republican bluster, know on which side their bread is buttered.

The solution at the moment is probably about the most workable one we can have. Former irish Republican terrorists get to sit in government and have a veto over most things, and anglo-scots get to maintain the union, while there is an open border with the republic. Any change to this would likely bring trouble.
 

nivilla1982

Member
Livestock Farmer
The Dublin Government even at the height of the Celtic tiger could not afford NI.
In reality not all that much will change, you will have the usual whinging from the SF/IRA, but they will do that anyway not mater what the issue. It was telling that the SDLP didn't join the SF call for a border poll.
The Nationalist vote has declined since the 1998 Agreement, we may see a move towards a politics that is not totally identified as orange v green issue, ie a more right v left politics.
The Dublin government does not want the massive headache of NI it will instead pay lip service to ideal of Irish Unity.
They will seek continued close bi-lateral relations with the UK gov and devolved government up here with enhancement/modification/protection of the Common Travel Area Agreement. Continued cross border trade etc.

Oddly when chatting to my nationalist neighbours they were among the most fervent leavers.
 

The truth

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
The future for Northern Ireland as a whole is simple, it either stays within the uk or it becomes a united Ireland. To become a United ireland is in reality a no go. This issue has been fought through the centuries, civil wars couldn't make it happen I doubt Brexit will. It is the Republic of Ireland that should be more worried post Brexit as its golden ticket has just fluttered away!

As for agriculture in Northern Ireland, quite simply until the country as a whole realises the potential it could have as effectively a contract manufacturer for the rest of the U.K., then it will continue to suffer crisis after crisis. I had the misfortune of watching and overhearing the current agriculture leadership for Northern Ireland ( primary office bearers of the UFU) whilst they walked around with their backpacks and baseball hats like tourists at the Royal Welsh show, go on to say maybe we should do nothing until we see what ever one else is doing!! It wouldn't fill me with hope for the guys over the water.
 
How many of the NI dairy farmers sell to coops and how many market there own milk or sell to a third party private buyer ......and do the supermarkets have a dedicated supplier base ... jtt
 

Ashtree

Member
The future for Northern Ireland as a whole is simple, it either stays within the uk or it becomes a united Ireland. To become a United ireland is in reality a no go. This issue has been fought through the centuries, civil wars couldn't make it happen I doubt Brexit will. It is the Republic of Ireland that should be more worried post Brexit as its golden ticket has just fluttered away!

As for agriculture in Northern Ireland, quite simply until the country as a whole realises the potential it could have as effectively a contract manufacturer for the rest of the U.K., then it will continue to suffer crisis after crisis. I had the misfortune of watching and overhearing the current agriculture leadership for Northern Ireland ( primary office bearers of the UFU) whilst they walked around with their backpacks and baseball hats like tourists at the Royal Welsh show, go on to say maybe we should do nothing until we see what ever one else is doing!! It wouldn't fill me with hope for the guys over the water.

My dear man the border came about in the last century. It (border) hasn't been fought about for centuries.
But you are right in that a United Ireland if ever is a long long way off, even though the demographics in NI are rapidly moving to a point where a vote for United Ireland could be successful.
Economically speaking ROI could nit afford to replace the monies currently flowing to NI from both Brussels and London.
I think that the concept of being Northern Irish is gaining ground with both sides in NI. Maybe at some point there will be an independent NI state with some sort of closer arrangement with ROI.
Seems everything is in flux since the USSR fell apart and the Berlin Wall fell. Break up of yougoslavia etc,. Now Brexit. Scotland getting edgy again. Possible break up of EU.
Anything can happen it seems.
 

Bones

Member
Location
n Ireland
The problem is England would love to dump us , the republic can't afford us , and we are a failed state , a lot of buyer's from republic come up and buy our lamb and can sell it on as country of origin Ireland , I dread to think what's going to happen when we are no longer a EU country .
 

jay

Member
Location
Co Down NI
How many of the NI dairy farmers sell to coops and how many market there own milk or sell to a third party private buyer ......and do the supermarkets have a dedicated supplier base ... jtt
The three largest milk buyers are coops, one NI based and two formed by cross border merges. About 30% of NI milk is processed in ROI so post Brexit arrangements will be critical to the industry. I don't think anyone is spot selling their milk, the only ones direct marketing would be the small group of producer processors but a fair number of producers would be supplying milk without a contract with the coop or private buyer they supply. M & S and Sainsburys have dedicated suppliers through coops but together I'm not sure that their numbers reach double figures, I think liquid milk is only about 8% of total production.
 
JAY. thank you... If you don't ask you don't learn .... I didn't know which Irish team to support at the euros .. So gave them both my full backing . Thanks again .... jtt
 

The Agrarian

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Northern Ireland
If I can add to jay's post,

To clarify what he said, a fairly large number of producers supplying the two southern co-ops which buy milk here (I say southern because the number of member producers they have here is actually minimal) are not shareholders, but actually just direct suppliers, many without a contract. I.e can leave tomorrow, and can be dumped tomorrow.

Bit unfair to call it a failed state. No need to regurgitate history, but there were people of course who dedicated decades of their lives to trying to make sure it failed. Considering it was half blown to bits, and the majority of it's young brains left for England, it's economically not that much different to the north of England, for example. Does that make it a failure?
 

SillyPhily

Member
Location
Wexford, Ireland
I think the southern attitude is you broke you own it, we could never afford it. Ever...
Sf make these great speeches north and south knowing they will never have power and half of them should be in a cell for many years. Their support base tends to be lower classes who support them because RABBLE RABBLE screw the brits attitude looking for someone to blame for their situation in life but themselves, not knowing/grasping most of their policies make Corbyn look tame.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 77 43.5%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 62 35.0%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 28 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.7%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 4 2.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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