Mass Immigration and a United Ireland

[Lidl_Shopper]

In another thread, someone made the very interesting point that Sinn Fein's support for liberal immigration laws may pose problems for its professed desire to see Ireland re-united. Do people here believe that immigrants, or their offspring, would be more likely than not to vote for a united Ireland in a border poll? And what if it was found that most immigrants supported the status quo in the north, would Shinners then support more restrictive immigration laws?

[FutureTaoiseach]

I have brought up this issue a number of times and I agree with you that people of non-Irish origin would probably be less likely to vote for a UI for a number of reasons. Firstly, a UI would make them a smaller minority in this state than they already would be prior to partition, reducing their political power as they would be electing a smaller Dail bloc. Secondly, without Irish roots they would be less inclined to feel like the heirs to Irish republicanism or nationalism. Feel free to dispute my perspective if you will. I am especially interested to hear what our foreign-national population feel on my conclusions.

[Fr. Hank Tree]

Nice thread. I predict on the title alone it will be 4 pages long by the end of the day.

[Respvblica]

I have brought up this issue a number of times and I agree with you that people of non-Irish origin would probably be less likely to vote for a UI for a number of reasons. Firstly, a UI would make them a smaller minority in this state than they already would be prior to partition, reducing their political power as they would be electing a smaller Dail bloc. Secondly, without Irish roots they would be less inclined to feel like the heirs to Irish republicanism or nationalism. Feel free to dispute my perspective if you will. I am especially interested to hear what our foreign-national population feel on my conclusions.

(ethnic)Nationalism might make them feel alienated. Secular republicanism which guarantees equal rights and popular sovereignty might be more attractive for people of diverse backgrounds. There is an opportunity to tarnish the DUP/unionist cause as being red-necked and backwards looking, with their allegiance to the monarchy and insistance of having creationism taught in schools as examples.

[fatcat]

I have brought up this issue a number of times and I agree with you that people of non-Irish origin would probably be less likely to vote for a UI for a number of reasons. Firstly, a UI would make them a smaller minority in this state than they already would be prior to partition, reducing their political power as they would be electing a smaller Dail bloc.

This analysis suggests that there are not immigrants in the north. There are large numbers of immigrants in the north from eastern Europe, Africa and China. Surely they would add to the overall number and therefore not necessarily make them a 'smaller minority'.

Secondly, without Irish roots they would be less inclined to feel like the heirs to Irish republicanism or nationalism. Feel free to dispute my perspective if you will. I am especially interested to hear what our foreign-national population feel on my conclusions.

You don't need to be of Irish origin to know that partition is morally and economically wrong. Most immigrants to Ireland have experienced oppression/imperialism and would be supportive of unification.

[popper]

I have brought up this issue a number of times and I agree with you that people of non-Irish origin would probably be less likely to vote for a UI for a number of reasons. Firstly, a UI would make them a smaller minority in this state than they already would be prior to partition, reducing their political power as they would be electing a smaller Dail bloc. Secondly, without Irish roots they would be less inclined to feel like the heirs to Irish republicanism or nationalism. Feel free to dispute my perspective if you will. I am especially interested to hear what our foreign-national population feel on my conclusions.

Nationalism might make them feel alienated. Secular republicanism which guarantees equal rights and popular sovereignty might be more attractive for people of diverse backgrounds. There is an opportunity to tarnish the DUP/unionist cause as being red-necked and backwards looking, with their allegiance to the monarchy and insistance of having creationism taught in schools as examples.

You don't know many Eastern Europeans I take it?

[blinding]

You would have to ask immigrants.I dont really want to mention this(as a non believer myself)but are not most polish people catholic.Would the religion of other immigrants be a factor?

[FutureTaoiseach]

A solution might be to shift our sources of immigrants more towards the Irish Diaspora, who because of their roots, would be more likely to favour a UI.

[Twin Towers]

Mass immigration represents the same threat to the identity and future of loyalist natives on this island as it does to us. Therein lies the nucleus of a real UI. Goodnight Sinn Fein.

[MichaelR]

I have brought up this issue a number of times and I agree with you that people of non-Irish origin would probably be less likely to vote for a UI for a number of reasons. Firstly, a UI would make them a smaller minority in this state than they already would be prior to partition, reducing their political power as they would be electing a smaller Dail bloc. Secondly, without Irish roots they would be less inclined to feel like the heirs to Irish republicanism or nationalism. Feel free to dispute my perspective if you will. I am especially interested to hear what our foreign-national population feel on my conclusions.

For what it's worth I'd probably vote for a UI. (If the vote were today I would not have a vote, but by the time it can realistically happen I can well have one).

Reasons being:

- Number one, and most important: plain common sense and convenience. What's that border FOR, apart from a former British Empire that's dead and buried? Two currencies, two systems of road signage, two visas for any of my non-EU friends to visit one small island. Heck they can't even agree on a joint penalty point system, leading to crazy Northern-registered cars on the roads here (and I guess it's the other way around over there).

- Number two, somewhat personal: more Protestant influence - a likely former Unionist party as "kingmaker" in a coalition, and thus less chance of getting RC dominance again in the event of a major depression (or even of a breakdown of the EU).

The exception would be if a UI brought NATO membership as a condition. But I guess a lot of Irish people don't want NATO either.