gdp's Comments

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 19:07:23 +0000

I've tried to explain democracy to you before, you need to do some homework on it yourself at this stage. Otherwise you look ignorant and foolish.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 17:02:45 +0000

Your attempt to personalise this debate shows your childishness- your background is unprovable and therefore irrelevant. But you disagree with all SF arguments. You understand economics - let's hear that garbled attempt to explain simple economics again. We're better off with lower wages, no investment and 40% not working? You should take over the unionist campaign in the upcoming border poll.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 15:53:06 +0000

I see your grasp of geography is as ridiculous as your grasp of mathematics. Or economics. Of course, Citi have full details of the lower pay structure in Belfast on their website! Corroborated by the fact that average wages are much lower here than in Britain. Or the rest of Ireland.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 15:14:24 +0000

Do I really need to take you through the numbers again? They're on this article. I'll leave you to have another go first.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 15:06:05 +0000

Which mainland are you discussing? We are on mainland Ireland in case you forgot. Do you mean Britain? There is an entirely different pay structure in Citi (and many other companies) between Britain and here. Citi workers in belfast are paid less and often attempt to get a transfer to Britain in order to get the British rate of pay - which is maintained on their return to Ireland. However as you can imagine Citi allows very few such transfers as their reason for moving here is to access highly qualified staff at a fraction of the British rate.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 14:27:30 +0000

Best to check your grammar before posting.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 14:26:51 +0000

Really, maybe that's why Citi (to name one of many) employ thousands of highly qualified tech graduates in belfast paying them a fraction of the rate available in Britain or Dublin.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 14:24:10 +0000

They recently announced a $5bn expansion is absolutely correct. It is now in line for an even greater investment as the newest technology chips are widely expected to be manufactured in Kildare. Given previous discussions I don't expect you to understand much of this. Or offer anything positive to any discussion. Good to see that unionists are no longer a majority though. Wouldn't you agree?

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 14:16:23 +0000

You're a SF voter, hilarious! Unionists are currently a minority. Nationalists will soon be a majority. Young nationalists are aware of the opportunities south of the border and the higher wages and generally greater wealth. Yet you believe unionists don't need to offer anything! Or even something better than the current low wage job, cuts to public sector jobs and zero investment. Good luck with that strategy in the upcoming border poll.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 11:47:37 +0000

Your argument is nonsensical. I have explained that politicians elected in Britain are ultimately responsible for these decision. Therefore they are likely to favour their home constituencies in Britain. Further job losses in the public sector are inevitable as the conservatives have said cuts will continue until 2020. Putting these 2 facts together means that this region is likely to see more public sector jobs cut. Slan

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 11:40:04 +0000

This is becoming repetitive, but I'll try one last time. Ireland currently borrows 10 year money at less than 3%. And less than the UK - maybe because markets are becoming wary of a country propped up by almost half a trillion of money printing. Ireland has very influential friends in the USA who would certainly support us in the transition to a united Ireland. Some of the worlds largest and best respected companies have their European HQ less than 100 miles from Belfast. They currently have satellite operations in small cities much further from Dublin than belfast. Belfast is the perfect fit to work in synergy with dublin in creating a high tech region. NI has lagged Britain in GDP per capita by approx 25% since it's creation. It has never been viable. I have given many examples of how we are very likely to be much better off after reunification. You offer nothing but a scare story based on the £9bn deficit which is actually a symptom of the failure of this state rather than a reason to continue on a failing path. You may not agree. But those who are open to a united Ireland (who are now in a majority) want to create something better than a state requiring endless billions from Britain - though this subsidy is being continually cut. As well as no investment and no hope of a more prosperous future. Slan

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 11:11:00 +0000

The whole point of my argument is that those who feel a strong link to Britain are no longer a majority. I have given numerous examples of how more jobs will be created in a reunified country. There will be initial problems of course. But I'm sure there will be international support for the transition and a reunited Ireland will be able to borrow to fund the transition. The transition is also likely to take a number of years rather than happen overnight. But the outcome will be more, better paid jobs in the medium term. The alternative is fewer public sector jobs, billions taken out of the welfare budget and no prospect of investment in infrastructure or from high tech foreign companies.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 10:58:25 +0000

It's not unfounded because it actually happened. Neither is it a scare story for the same reason. I don't understand why you wish to ignore the fact that 300 public sector jobs have been cut here. The fact that the conservatives have said that cuts will continue until 2020 would imply that there is a large risk more public servants will be made redundant here.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 09:58:58 +0000

I have no idea why this point is ridiculous. The British cutting 300 jobs is very significant in this small region and is a statement of their future intent. Unionism is based on creating fear of the economics of a United Ireland while ignoring the current failed economic situation of job losses, 40% of working age people not working and the only investment coming from minimum wage paying call centres.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 09:52:02 +0000

The fact is that the low tax structure and good infrastructure in transport and IT connectivity in the south has already created one of the world's major high tech hubs in Greater Dublin. For example Intel recently announced a $5bn expansion in Leixslip. Google recently spent several hundred million euro on new offices in Dublin. Microsoft employ thousands in Dublin etc. That's only the IT sector, there is also a pharmaceutical hub south of the border. Having worked in some of the IT companies in Dublin that I mentioned I can tell you that they struggle to recruit people at all levels. There is no other city in Ireland close enough to Dublin or large enough to support a rapidly growing Dublin. Though Limerick and Cork - smaller and much further away than Belfast currently host smaller operations for these companies. Belfast gets zero benefit from having the European HQs of some of the world's largest and best-paying companies less than 100 miles down the road. That would change dramatically in a UI. Many high tech jobs would be created in Belfast - assuming transport links are brought into the 21st century. Private sector jobs here would be unaffected by reunification and public sector jobs (housing executive etc) would still be required - at least in a 10 year or so transitionary phase. Some would certainly go in the longer term but to no greater extent than currently under Westminster rule. The 30% economically inactive currently neither work nor claim benefit so not sure why they would receive benefit in a UI. They would have the opportunity for well paid private sector jobs though after training. Is the only argument for the union that it costs £9bn per annum in Westminster subsidy to run this region so we must continue on this failed path? Even as the British cut billions from that subsidy without the required all Ireland approach to taxation and infrastructure investment essential to creating a private sector and well paid jobs.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 09:18:23 +0000

I getting bored. I've given several examples of how jobs with be created in the north after reunification. If you are happy to live in a region which has had no investment for 50 years, no private sector jobs, no well paid jobs to speak of while the British continue to fire public sector workers ( the DVA workers in coleraine were fired not redeployed) and take more money out of the economy here without any investment simply because you have a public sector job that's your decision. You have given exactly zero examples of how this region will ever be economically sustainable in the union.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Fri, 2 May 2014 08:15:45 +0000

Exactly. And the British will continue to make public servants here redundant. The only hope for job creation (for the reasons outlined above) is to remove the border which divides this small island at a cost of billions per year. Slan go foill.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Thu, 1 May 2014 21:34:33 +0000

No, 300 public sector jobs have been lost in Coleraine: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-265... I don't care who you vote for or why. I describe your argument as shallow because it begins and ends with a fear you'll lose your public sector job. The general pro union argument isn't much better though. I've explained that public sector jobs are being cut by the British and will continue to be cut - they are not elected here and have no affiliation with the electorate here. The investment required to bring infrastructure in this part of Ireland to the standard of the rest of the country will create jobs. High tech companies will not invest in a region where there has been no investment in transport infrastructure for 50 years. Lowering taxes to the level of the rest of Ireland will create jobs. Establishing proper links with a wealthy city such as dublin will create jobs. Having one efficient body bringing highly paid jobs to all of Ireland will increase employment here. You have yet to provide a single example of how jobs will be created in the union as the British continue to take billions out of the benefit system and make public sector workers here redundant as their jobs are moved to Britain.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Thu, 1 May 2014 20:17:28 +0000

Read my reply to ffs. By the way less than 800,000 people here currently work. So it will not be difficult to decrease unemployment from the effective current rate of almost 40% with investment in motorways for the first time since the 60's, lowering of taxation, an effective all Ireland body working to bring well paid jobs to the whole country. What's the prospects in the union? No investment, no well paid jobs and no hope.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ : Unionists in danger of European election split vote... and SDLP could snatch a seat - BelfastTelegra

Thu, 1 May 2014 19:14:09 +0000

Don't understand your fascination with bunkers. Perhaps you'd be interested in my reply to ffs.