Shared island unit prepares for england losing interest in ni: tao is each

Alex Byrne: The Shared Island Unit was originally meant to be called the United Ireland Office — the change came last-minute in coalition formation bickering. So, obviously, unionism has someone in government who cares about their feelings.

Michael Phylan: Before anyone gets too fearful, or excited (depending on how you feel about this), it is only a contingency plan. A plan. Not saying it will happen.

Mark Neale: What, jingoistic bile. When the Irish government signed up to the Belfast Agreement, they recognised that NI and its place in the Union was nothing to do with “England” (the use of “England” is actually quite racist in this context), nor, for that matter, was it an issue for the Republic of Ireland, but everything to do with NI people.

Stephen Williamson: England? Never mind 900,000-plus unionists and other non-republic supporters.

Alan Briers: Is Dublin now “turned on” by Northern Ireland?

Stephen Hylands: Turned off? Who wouldn’t be, given the behaviour of the DUP and their sister party, Sinn Fein. No doubt a payoff from the Government and Europe could sweeten the pill.

Jim Butler: England got “turned off” in 1969 and they’ve been treading water ever since.

Paul Mcmorrow: Theday England lost interest has been and gone long ago. And who can blame them?

Peter Wilson: Scotland will always love NI.

Jeffery Garrett: So, it’s all up to England? It’s the unionists who live here you need on-side.

Paul Mcwhirter: Irrespective of whether

England is turned off Northern Ireland or not, they are bound by the Good Friday Agreement to keep it while the majority here wish to be under its jurisdiction. This is often a point lost. England can’t just decide to cut us adrift, any more than it can deny a united Ireland when a border poll passes.

Dana Jamison: He’s a geg.

Alex Trapist: “Turned off”? It was never turned on.