Dawn, what does it matter who caused the segregation of the schools? Fact of the matter is, it is a current day problem that needs to be resolved.

Posted by Éamonn | 14.10.09, 09:33 GMT

"I was very happy to hear Secretary of State Clinton mention the fact that NI still has religiously "segregated" schools. I hope that this divisive anomaly will be remedied very soon. Religion has no place in schools."

Who caused the segregation in the schools in the 1950s by taking out one religion and putting them in their own schools?
The RC Church!

Posted by dawn | 13.10.09, 16:37 GMT

"Policing is regarded as a particularly sensitive issue" - and the reason is the RUC etc are under the historic allegation that they colluded in murder! The Police need to be managed by a truly independent mided group of people - ones who harbour no grudge nor malice. This issue is about one set of politicians trusting another set - on a personal level. However we all know for there to be Peace the politicians must move on and harbour no grudges. I am concerned that our politicans are still full of malice and actually don't want peace!!

Posted by andrew | 13.10.09, 14:28 GMT

Lo,
De Valera did not support the Nazis, but instead implemented a policy of strict neutrality during WWII. In fact, there was a lot of Irish cooperation with MI5 and Americans intelligence services. When it is said that there were no true neutrals in WWII, Ireland would be a neutral on the side of the Allies. De Valera made major public blunders, such as offering his condolences upon Hitler's death, but he never supported the Nazi regime.

Posted by patrick Witt | 13.10.09, 13:29 GMT

When you talk about police and justice. Who is policing the education minister from making a bad job worse and why are the parents not getting the justice they desire for their children’s education. Ignoring this problem will be at the pearl of this nation, why is the education system being hijacked by politically motivated person who seems not to want to listen to anyone except her own party who seems only to endorse her. Wake up to the reality people are tired of ineffective politicians who run this country who do not listen. Remember all sides of the community are concerned about the current impasse, the silence is deafening from Stormont. No debate no questions answered this is not a democracy it’s a dictatorship

Posted by S Devine | 13.10.09, 11:59 GMT

Northern Ireland would be better off with the help of the United States Dept of State along with the Investment of US Companies. I know the wounds are still deep and painful but dwelling over the past is never going to enable this place to move on and take advantage of all it has to offer.

Posted by kc | 13.10.09, 11:55 GMT

That makes sense Eamonn and gives 20 years breatheing space.

My biggest concern is, that while we have a slight Unionist majority forced into a mixed coalition with loads of safe guards for Nationalists, down the line a slight Nationalist majority might decide its time for a chosen coalition or majority rule.

Stephen

Posted by Stephen | 13.10.09, 10:25 GMT

Fair play to Mrs Clinton for giving up her valuable time to try and help the people of Ireland. I agree with her comments about school segregation, we should all be educated together.

There were protestants in my school and we all got on great. One of them was a class hurler.

There should be no question of a change to the constitution of Northern Ireland for twenty years after devolution is completed and the North-South bodies are implemented. So i think 2030 there should be a debate on where Northern Ireland wants to go.

Posted by Éamonn | 13.10.09, 09:45 GMT

Some interesting posts - didn't realise the Republic ie De Valera supported Nazi thinking and their leader!! I seem to recall McAleese thinking Unionists did!! How the tide has turned!

Other countries within EU like Czech and Solvakia are separate and their is no bitching going on like in this hole!!

Get people jobs, I don't care who's head on the coin and neither should others, as long they have enough to make ends meet, pay the mortgage and get through Christmas!! Priorities guys, you all clearly get paid way too much!

At the moment for the majority of people in NI being part of UK is to our advantage and no fool would want to be part of RoI - unless they want a death wish!! At least we don't pay 50 euro each time we see a doctor or physio - people need to catch themselves on - you could not afford to live down south - just realise when you have it good!

Posted by Lo | 13.10.09, 09:35 GMT

gerard as much as i like your delightful fantasies i hate to see you disappointed who was it promised you this all ireland it could not be the same party who said ireland would not go into eu, and the south is no longer interested ,we will of course be united within eu structure while staying an integral part of the united kingdom this is the country you will eventually lift your pension from, so dont be lead on a false journey,it could be...up the garden path

Posted by william | 13.10.09, 07:13 GMT

Well said WH, but don't stop there just get rid of Religion completely from all aspects of life and politics.

Posted by Dave | 13.10.09, 05:49 GMT

The Americans need to spend some more time at home and get their own house in order. The time has come for them to stop tellimg othet people how to go about their business!!

Posted by Bill | 13.10.09, 04:54 GMT

You'll be waiting a long time gerard,im no fan of the dup or sinn fein either but there isn't going to be a united ireland in your time or mine - who would want the south of ireland anyway? look at the state of their economy,its a joke.
Just accept where you live and be happy with it,you would have something to really complain about if you lived in some other parts of the world, your here for a good time - not a long time.

Posted by arron | 13.10.09, 01:30 GMT

If Gerard thinks the Unionists need a De Klerk , then surely Irish Nationalists need an Eamon De Valera.
De Valera who keep Eire neutral while all other Western countries were sacrificing to fight the evil of Nazism and the Japanese Imperial forces.
De Valera who refused to help fight the terror of Nazism , letting everyone else carry the burden.
The same De Valera who cause an Irish Civil War by voting no to the Anglo Irish Treaty.
The same De Valera who sent condolences to the Germany Embassy on hearing of Hitler's death.
On the subject of Gerard wanting a united Ireland , he is living in the past , no one wants it , no oned voted for it and 35 years of terrorism to achieve a united Ireland failed miserably.

Posted by Steve | 13.10.09, 00:40 GMT

We neither need nor want some interfering old biddy, whose filandering hubby cannot grammatically string two sentences together, dictate to us how we must accept, as partners, the murdering republicans of the past.
We will never surrender to the whims of the irish/american lobby.

Posted by tommy hall | 13.10.09, 00:25 GMT

Will she go home now and suggest they make Bin-Laden vice president of USA..

Posted by Ooops is this silly | 12.10.09, 23:46 GMT

WH - of course your delight in Mrs Clinton's purported disdain for segregated schools has nothing to do with the fact that Catholic maintained Grammar schools out-perform their 'state-maintained' counterparts by some considerable margin?

You'll be voting for Sinn Féin next.

Posted by The Mighty Begorrah | 12.10.09, 22:36 GMT

Sticking their noses in where it's not wanted, AGAIN. Who NEEDS a YANK telling us how to live?

Posted by Stuart | 12.10.09, 22:15 GMT

Gerard, don't be haulin' yer breath waitin', coz it aint gonna happen in our lifetime.

Posted by Ulster 4 eva | 12.10.09, 21:29 GMT

I'm all for the GFA, I'm all for equality and power sharing, I'm all for putting the past behind us and embracing IRA/Sinn Fein into our government, I welcome the visit from Secretary Clinton, and despite hearing some very negative comments on the radio today coming out of the unionist community, I do not believe they were representative of the majority unionist vote.

There are high tensions today on the 25th anniversary of the Brighton bombing, the day an unrepentant IRA murderer is standing in Westminster as an ambassador of peace, yet a man who feels no guilt for his shameful past?

And what future for unionism in IRA/Sinn Fein's Ireland of equals, when republicans cannot bring themselves to recognise or even say the words Northern Ireland; if you want unionism to respect the prospect of a united Ireland, then respect Northern Ireland and its place in the UK.

If unionist are not even given this equality today, then forget believing it will come in a future united Ireland?

Posted by Steven73 | 12.10.09, 20:56 GMT