Martin McGuinness: Unhelpful to take sides in divisive Scotland debate

[factual]

UTV News - McGuinness avoids Scottish debate

He said: "This is an issue which could be used to create divisions in this house or even in our Executive or even between the First Minister and myself. I think all of us should resist the temptation to be drawn into something that will be decided elsewhere. We have our own duties and responsibilities, we have our own agreements stretching back to 1998, the St. Andrews Agreement, the Hillsborough Agreements and I think we abide by the agreements we have made and get on with our duties and responsibilites. What happens elsewhere has to be a matter primarily for the people concerned and my attitude to it is we would be best advised to stay clear of it,"

Very statesmanshiplike behaviour from Martin McGuinness - avoiding taking sides on a divisive issue that ultimately is not for six county people to determine.

[Tedkins]

He is of course right that the issue of Scottish independence is of no constitutional import whatsoever to the position of Northern Ireland within The United Kingdom.

But I feel he is naive if he believes that those who believe in The Union and those who believe in the dissolution of The Union will resist the temptation to air their views and stay clear of it. Its a very important issue. It will become much more important in the years to come. People here have a view on that and I would expect them to air those views. This can be done in a mature manner, we create our own divisions anyway in a wide variety of contexts, it seems to me that McGuinness is merely scare-mongering when he proclaims Scottish independence is too divisive an issue to discuss when in the State he serves as Deputy First Minister we have issues much more likely to be divisive in our society than this.

[Ó Ghabhainn]

He is of course right that the issue of Scottish independence is of no constitutional import whatsoever to the position of Northern Ireland within The United Kingdom.

But I feel he is naive if he believes that those who believe in The Union and those who believe in the dissolution of The Union will resist the temptation to air their views and stay clear of it. Its a very important issue. It will become much more important in the years to come. People here have a view on that and I would expect them to air those views. This can be done in a mature manner, we create our own divisions anyway in a wide variety of contexts, it seems to me that McGuinness is merely scare-mongering when he proclaims Scottish independence is too divisive an issue to discuss when in the State he serves as Deputy First Minister we have issues much more likely to be divisive in our society than this.

But ultimately the outcome will be decided by the Scottish people and the opinion of an outsider is of no importance to them. So that being the case, making an issue of it in the assembly or the executive is just a waste of time, and creating divisions over this is simply pointless.

Of course people here will have certain feelings about it but that has no bearing in Scotland. So why waste time on it?

[Tedkins]

But ultimately the outcome will be decided by the Scottish people and the opinion of an outsider is of no importance to them. So that being the case, making an issue of it in the assembly or the executive is just a waste of time, and creating divisions over this is simply pointless.

Of course people here will have certain feelings about it but that has no bearing in Scotland. So why waste time on it?

I think we should be allowed to have views and air them on issues whether or not our views have any bearing on the resolution of those issues. It is naive to believe otherwise.

[between the bridges]

UTV News - McGuinness avoids Scottish debate

He said: "This is an issue which could be used to create divisions in this house or even in our Executive or even between the First Minister and myself. I think all of us should resist the temptation to be drawn into something that will be decided elsewhere. We have our own duties and responsibilities, we have our own agreements stretching back to 1998, the St. Andrews Agreement, the Hillsborough Agreements and I think we abide by the agreements we have made and get on with our duties and responsibilites. What happens elsewhere has to be a matter primarily for the people concerned and my attitude to it is we would be best advised to stay clear of it,"

Very statesmanshiplike behaviour from Martin McGuinness - avoiding taking sides on a divisive issue that ultimately is not for six county people to determine.

oh you mean like the president of ROI?

marty speak translation it was alright for me to take time off from DFM and swan around the ROI looking to increase my chances of ever lasting fame ,but don't anyone else have opinion on another part of the brit empire…

[Ó Ghabhainn]

I think we should be allowed to have views and air them on issues whether or not our views have any bearing on the resolution of those issues. It is naive to believe otherwise.

Fair enough. Maybe you're right that it should be discussed. In my own personal view this would be for preparatory purposes.

But then again I feel there are more relevant matters. My own opinion.

[Marcella]

I think we should be allowed to have views and air them on issues whether or not our views have any bearing on the resolution of those issues. It is naive to believe otherwise.

Perhaps air these views away from Stormont though and get on with the day job.

[Tedkins]

Fair enough. Maybe you're right that it should be discussed. In my own personal view this would be for preparatory purposes.

But then again I feel there are more relevant matters. My own opinion.

Martin McGuinness saying this may lead to it being discussed more. People might start threads about it on Internet fora.

[Tedkins]

Perhaps air these views away from Stormont though and get on with the day job.

I'm sure the Assembly has discussed non-Northern Ireland issues in the past.

[Marcella]

I'm sure the Assembly has discussed non-Northern Ireland issues in the past.

Probably, I'd prefer they do what they're paid to do. They're not students anymore, debate what's relevant.