Republic of Ireland's stance on N.Ireland

[Hiero]

Can someone fill me in on the stance the Republic of Ireland has had over the years in regards to N.Ireland? I haven't been able to find any quick information on this question.

[Some Red Guy]

I think unification is important to them. At least among the general populace, and I think the official policies reflect this. But I'm not sure exactly how it works, I'm sure one of our Irish members will fill you in better.

[PRC-UTE]

Just the ROI, or also counting when it was the Free State?

A mix of the occasional mild sympathy for the catholic/nationalist population in the six counties but mainly just ignoring it. Michael Collins regime sent some arms to the six counties IRA units, and in 1970 or so two ministers in Jack Lynch's cabinet were caught aiding the IRA- however it was something they had to keep secret from their own govt. also a bit of republican rhetoric to appeal to certain voters, but mostly enforcement of the Border. the free state authorities were essential in defeating the IRA and creating N. Ireland by crushing republicans.

the ruling class in the 26 counties has no real interest in getting the north, and removed the section of the Irish Republic's consitution laying claim to it. primarily they are concerned with issues internal to the 26, and from keeping the fighting from spilling into the south.

there was a significant shift after Conor Cruise O'Brien was in govt. he was openly west brit and anti-Irish, anti-republican in the extreme. here's a decent documentary on the subject http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xBzFAItqZY

[ComradeOm]

Until 1999 the official stance of the Republic, as enshrined in the Constitution, was that the Six Counties were an integral part of the Irish nation and that the partition of the island was illegitimate*. Hence the distinction between the terms 'nation' (the whole island) and 'state' (the Republic) in Irish politics

In practice the issue of reunification rather quickly (as in within a few years of independence) slipped down the Republic's list of priorities. IIRC there was some madcap scheme to invade, in ambulances, when the Troubles were at their height during the early 70s but that came to nothing. Ultimately there was little that the Irish government could do except continue to insist on their territorial rights

Following the Good Friday Agreement, the Constitution was altered slightly to remove the Republic's explicit claims of national territoriy (while leaving just what constitutes the 'Irish nation' ambiguous) but retains the "firm will" of a United Ireland. This remains a nominal objective of the Irish government, as it has every government since independence. Popular opinion supports such a move with polls consistently placing support for United Ireland in the Republic at 80+%

*Particularly Articles 2 ("the national territory consists of the whole island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas") and 3 ("Pending the re-integration of the national territory...")

[pastradamus]

Can someone fill me in on the stance the Republic of Ireland has had over the years in regards to N.Ireland? I haven't been able to find any quick information on this question.

The basic Stance was that up until 1998 the Government of the Irish Republic Claimed Northern Ireland as Legitimate Irish Property. But when the Good Friday agreement of 1998 came about the Government of the UK & Ireland met and the Republic's government agreed to give up its claim to the North.

[redflag32]

and in 1970 or so two ministers in Jack Lynch's cabinet were caught aiding the IRA- however it was something they had to keep secret from their own govt.

Ive read documents from this period that prove beyond doubt that the ministers who were kicked out for importing arms for the IRA and civilians in the 6 counties were in fact just carrying out official Government policy.

After the siege of Derry Jack Lynch's cabinet for the first time seriously considered armed action over the border. The army was ordered to the border under a cover story that it was to create field hospitals and refugee camps for the Catholic population who were under attack from Loyalist mobs. In fact the mobilization was real and the two army reserve forces were brought into play.

The army was ordered by the Irish government to arm and train the northern catholics and it was also ordered to train for special military operation within the 6 counties. The Irish army went on a panic to import heavy arms without the knowledge of the British army, because up untill then the British knew everything the irish Army had and the list of weaponry they sourced and wanted leaves you with no doubt of what their intentions were. This policy lasted from august 69 untill Lynch quickly changed tack for some un-known reason and he created the false arms trial and kicked out two of his ministers for implimenting what was actually official government policy.

[joejoe]

Most people in the Free State dont care about the occupied 6 countys. The Free state Goverment would like to have nothing got do do with the occupied 6 countys.