1. Do you believe that, with a Catholic population at 45% of the Ulster population, North-South Bodies, Sinn Fein potentially in government in the Republic and the obvious lack of positive support for the Union in the UK, a United Ireland is inevitable, or do you feel that the Union will be alive and well long into the future, and if so why? -- Bruce Finch, UK
   The question implies that every Roman Catholic is issued with a nationalist political identity along with his baptismal certificate. This has never been the case as voting statistics from 1921 show that substantial numbers of Catholics have always voted for Unionist candidates. Post September 11th world opinion has moved dramatically against terror as a political weapon, largely negating the possibility of renewed bombing on the mainland UK, thus reducing pressure on the government to appease violent republicanism. Possible economic recession in the Republic, the positive equality agenda in Northern Ireland, and a falling Catholic birth rate may all make Irish unity far from inevitable. The social and economic benefits of the Union will not lightly be abandoned by those who benefit most from them.

2. Didn't the British government presume that the border (separating Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) was a temporary arrangement when it was first established, and haven't the actions and/or words of Prime Ministers – from Lloyd George to Churchill to Thatcher to Major to Blair – been an expression of this presumption? -- Newshound
   Yes, but all of them have been forced to acknowledge that the Border will remain a permanent feature until a majority of the people of Northern Ireland decide otherwise. The actions and words of the Prime Ministers referred to have, so far, failed to obtain that consent, despite violations of the principles of democratic government in their efforts to achieve it.

3. Aren't there some circumstances where a 'united Ireland' approach would be more beneficial to Northern Ireland than a United Kingdom approach (for example, tourism and agriculture)? -- Newshound
   To suggest that in two adjoining states specific areas of their economy would benefit from unification is not a realistic basis for such a policy. Would it be a feasible basis for the unification of the United States and Canada in North America, or Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula, though, doubtless, specific areas of their economy would benefit?

4. Can you explain why the alleged peace process has freed terrorists, put them into power over decent people, both Protestant, and Catholic, and subverted justice into a "Mafioso" like state with the law wreckers gaining power, and the law abiders losing effective means of defending common decency? -- Stephen Cooper, Sofia, Bulgaria
   The peace process did not have as its primary objective a political settlement between the divided communities of Northern Ireland on the basis of normal democratic procedure. Its real purpose was to effect a “Conflict Resolution” between the British government and violent Republicanism to avert a mainland bombing campaign. This required massive political concessions to pan-nationalism under the guise of a political settlement, the main aim of which was to provide transitional arrangements for a United Ireland solution. The consequences raised in the question are the products of that policy.

5. Would it be correct to describe the current assembly at Stormont as "an IRA government", because it is the IRA who are the most dominant factor, and the only element whose aims and demands the "Brits" are going to placate? -- Sam Flanagan, Belfast
   This question highlights the natural outcome of the policy dealt with in reply to Question 2. As Fergus Finlay, political adviser to the Irish government, said at the time of the negotiations leading to the Belfast Agreement, without Sinn Féin/IRA the Talks were not worth a penny candle. The placating of the IRA demands politically is the key to a policy of persuading it that violence is not necessary to achieving its objective of a United Ireland.

6. Now that the IRA has decommissioned, do you believe that the Republicans' aims have been achieved? Isn't there a danger, from the Republican perspective, that the people of Northern Ireland (nationalist and Unionist) will be so satisfied with the status quo that a united Ireland will never be achieved? -- Newshound
   This question implies that the IRA has not only commenced a process of decommissioning, but has completed it. Neither inference is true nor is the conclusion drawn from them accurate. The aim of the Republican movement is an end to partition and to achieve a united Ireland in the form of a socialist republic. Sinn Féin leaders state that the present institutions are merely a transitional phase en route to their final objective. The weaponry must be retained as an insurance against the failure of the political phase.

7. In the light of the triumph of the softliners in the Unionist Party and the apparently blissful appeasing instinct of the UUP membership what on Earth can realistically be done now to reverse the damage Trimble has done to the state of the Union? -- Tom Corbin, London
   The only hope of limiting the damage to the Union is that a fresh election would demonstrate the total disillusionment of the pro-Union majority with the Belfast Agreement and David Trimble’s leadership. A heavy defeat of the soft-liners in his party might lead to a re-alignment of pro-Union parties and force the British government to review at least the worse excesses of their policy. A return to the normal principles of democratic government and a strong anti-terrorist programme covering both the IRA and loyalist paramilitary organisations is the real alternative. Events in New York and Washington have now changed world opinion on terrorism and provide the government with an opportunity to deal effectively with any threat of a return to terrorist activity on the British mainland.

8. What would convince you that Sinn Féin has now accepted ‘democratic principles as the basis for the settlement of disputes?’ -- Newshound
   A joint declaration by Sinn Féin/IRA that they have completely and permanently abandoned terrorist violence as a means of obtaining political objectives, and the public destruction of the weapons of violence, coupled with a dismantling of the IRA's terrorist infrastructure. If democratic principles have been accepted by them, how can the retention of a terrorist infrastructure and arsenals be justified?

9. Does the author think that the smaller parties in the assembly can form an effective opposition? -- Judy, England
   The concept of institutional democracy with a majority party or coalition of parties constituting a majority forming the government with the others acting as an opposition does not apply in Northern Ireland. The devolved government is run by an executive of a First and Deputy First Minister plus ten Ministers who are nominated by parties according to their strength in the Assembly. The Ulster Unionists and the SDLP have three Ministers each and the DUP and Sinn Féin two each. The smaller parties hold only 17 seats out of 108 and have no prospect of forming an effective opposition. The form of Northern Ireland’s devolution does not allow of an opposition as understood in a normal democracy.

10. Do you still believe that the laws of the Irish Republic are too ‘Catholic’ for the Protestant people of Northern Ireland? Which laws, if changed, would allow you to state that the Republic offers a greater degree of liberty than the United Kingdom? If such a situation arose, would you support a united Ireland? -- Newshound
    Under the influence of Anglo-American culture and global media communications, the religious ethos of the Republic is changing. The Republic remains, however, virtually homogenous in its theological, racial and cultural outlook. To speak of pluralism in the context of the Republic's population is a contradiction in terms. At present it is not possible to contemplate a greater degree of liberty being available than that offered in a pluralist United Kingdom. For example, there are presently more citizens of the Irish Republic living and working happily in mainland Britain than the total pro-nationalist population of Northern Ireland.

11. Do you perceive any differences between the IRA and those who carried out the attacks on September 11? -- Newshound
    No. The objectives of IRA bombs detonated in British cities and the vicious attacks on New York and Washington have been exactly the same: terrorizing the civilian populations of the victim countries; threatening their economic foundations; and hugely increasing expenditure on security measures in order to force the victim countries to adopt policies conducive to the achievement of the terrorists' political objectives. The success of the IRA undoubtedly provided a blueprint for Osama bin Laden.

12. What is the aspiration of Unionists – complete integration within the UK, devolved government or independence? -- Newshound
    Independence is not, I believe, a viable option. Since the United Kingdom's constitutional policy is now one of devolution, political integration into mainstream British institutions is not inconsistent with devolved government for Northern Ireland. Such government must conform with the basic principle of democracy that prevails in the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies, namely, that a majority party, or coalition of parties forming a majority, constitutes the government. Devolution of such a kind must now be the Unionist aspiration, accompanied by appropriate safeguards to ensure the civil rights of minorities.

13. If 51% of the people in Northern Ireland voted for a united Ireland tomorrow, how would you react? -- Newshound
    My reaction would depend upon the circumstances and the manner in which a referendum was conducted. Experience has taught me that referenda, unless conducted with scrupulous fairness, are only held when the government is certain of the outcome. Hence, it is the favourite device of totalitarian regimes. The Republic of Ireland is to be praised for the safeguards it provides for referenda. The manner in which the British government conducted the referendum on the Belfast Agreement would have been unlawful in the Republic. As a democrat, I would accept the outcome of a fair referendum, but obviously much would depend upon the specific terms, including constitutional safeguards and a comprehensive Bill of Rights. As a politician, one would have serious reservations about the political viability of such a narrow vote on the most serious question for a citizen, that is, his national identity.

14. In your book, you argue for the main British political parties to accept members from Northern Ireland as a means of ending the identity politics that currently dominates the province. Which, if any, of the main parties would you join? -- Newshound
    The organization of the major mainland parties in Northern Ireland would pre-suppose their recognition that Northern Ireland is, to use Margaret Thatcher's words, as much a part of the United Kingdom as is her Finchley constituency. My politics are instinctively somewhat to the left of centre and I would share the socio-economic values of Old Labour, minus the class warfare. New Labour is Conservatism in drag. I would have great difficulty in voting for either as a party. My vote would largely depend on the quality of the candidate in my constituency.

15. Isn't it true that the EU is a far greater threat to the sovereignty of the United Kingdom (and Northern Ireland) than is the Republic? -- Newshound
    Yes, insofar as the objective of the EU is the formation of a politically cohesive European super-state detrimental to the rights and sovereignty of the separate nation-states comprising it. The threat posed by the EU is a political one, to which there is broadly based opposition on political, economic and democratic grounds. The threat to Northern Ireland in terms of Irish unity is terrorist-led, and Unionist opposition has lacked broad-based support as successive UK governments have chosen appeasement to secure the safety of the mainland population against terrorist outrage.

16. Do you think Unionists were mistaken in ignoring Irish-America and leaving it to the British government to make their case? -- Newshound
    No. The only case to which Irish America offered support was that of Irish unity. The political need for securing its vote in US elections often translated that support into government policy.

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