How close are we really to a united Ireland? | The News Agents

Northern Ireland's new first minister Michelle O'Neill has had her knuckles metaphorically rapped by the PM - who's warned politicians to "focus on the day to day" of the brand new power sharing deal - and not start conversations about a united Ireland.

Could Ireland really unite within he decade? How many voters want to see that happen? And are we missing the bigger picture of what this deal actually means and where the vulnerabilities still lie?

Later, Chris Steele is the former MI6 officer sued by Trump over the 'pee pee gate dossier'. That case has now been thrown out by a judge. He talks us through what it was like being sued by the former president and his fears that the US security services will be cowed into covering up what they know - if Trump returns.

#ireland #uk #news #politics #trump #NewsAgents #EmilyMaitlis #JonSopel #LewisGoodall

Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall – three of the UK’s top journalists – host a brand-new daily news podcast: The News Agents.

They’re not just here to tell you what's happening, but why. Expect astute analysis and explanation of the day's news – and a healthy dose of scepticism and the ability to laugh at it all when needed!

Episodes are available every weekday afternoon.

The News Agents is a Global Player Original podcast and a Persephonica production.

[Jamieguevara]

Completely untrue that people in the Republic don't want a United Ireland as Emily says here. Huge majority would love to see it.

[bernardmolloy]

I am Irish and from the Border area. And there will be a United Ireland. There are only 2 questions:-
- When it happens
- What that reunified Ireland would look like

[Londubh]

To those who say a united Ireland will never happen, the soviet union fell and east Germany is now joined with the rest of Germany. And that happened over night.

[Murffytalk]

A reunited Ireland is a more appropriate phrase.

[michaelmccarthy]

Why does nobody ask how the Protestants came to be there in the first place? Or does it not matter?

[paulkinsella]

Many unionist politicians say, there won't be a United Ireland, and yet I can't help noticing the nervous look on their faces.

[BruceRobboFanClub]

Well done, Lewis - the first English journo I've heard, not absolutely mangle Taoiseach, Fianna Fail, and Fine Gael.

[hotbeefymcd]

As David McWilliams often says: demographics are destiny

[davidbosquette]

Reunification not unification. Give Ireland back to the Irish. The time is now.

[peteymax]

People in Ireland will overlook any temporary fiscal challenges to reunite our country. It will be temporary, a whole island economy will thrive.

[rule-of-thumb]

From a Welsh man, it was great to see Michelle O'Neill became the first minister. Next reunification ✊🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇨🇮🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[nickyd]

Even the DUP doesn't like the DUP.
Worth noting, O'Neill is one of the oldest Irish family names

[irishskier]

Emily your not correct about the south, There have been recent polls in the south that have shown 75 percent would vote in favour of UI

[ianworley]

Other than UK Tory Unionists and Ulster Unionists, I honestly believe that a majority of the UK population would be more than happy to see a united Ireland. Personally, the sooner the better. As an Englishman, I'd go further and happily see the Union dissolved and all four parts permanently and peacefully independent of each other.

[denniefleetfoot]

Likely not the first to mention this but the 1990 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode ‘The High Ground’, stated that Irish reunification happened in 2024….

It wasn’t until 2007 that the uncensored episode was broadcast by the BBC. It had been edited to remove that line till then.

[kapitidon]

What's really changed is the language and attitude of British Journalists show towards Northern Irish Political leaders
Emily has shown the First and Deputy First Ministers the respect they both deserve.
Thank you.

[anthonymullen]

And why not considering the Misery that England bestowed upon that Ireland for centuries.

[ConnbineHarvester]

8:51 The Irish border is the sea, the line that divides Northern Ireland from the Republic Of Ireland is a British border on the island of Ireland.

[oneblueorange]

Northern Ireland is over...it's only a matter of time.

[barryryan]

The 6 counties of Ireland were stolen after a plantation. I can safely say this lady is incorrect in her statement. Irish people in the vast majority want their country reunited.