Big Tim, the present IRA arose from the turmoil caused by civil rights demonstations that bagan in the mid-1960s when it was impossible, except by protest, to question the injustices of the Stormont regime. Those who complained to Westminster were simply referred back to the legitimate government of Northern Ireland (Stormont) which, of course, was responsible for the abuses.

From 1970, the Provos detonated thousands of bombs and killed many police and military - and alas some civilians - all treated as criminal acts by the sovereign power. Those imprisoned have been released, they have seen off the RUC, they have seen an end to all the abuses that gave rise to the civil rights movement - and of course, they have kept their weapons. It seems quite reasonable to me that Brendy (whom I was quoting) should say they've won.

Poppagator in wanting to add three more counties to NI for the purpose of a referendum, is still assuming people in the republic would vote for a united Ireland. It just isn't so. And in any case, so long as reconciliation and stability can be achieved north and south, within a strong EU, what does it matter whether government is from Dublin or Westminster?

Tiocfaidh, discrimination festers where it can. But there is now good law to protect victims, whether the discrimination is because of race, sex, disability or religion. I suspect that some of what you hear is folklore but where inequality is suspected people should take action, if necessary pursuing claims to the European Court of Human Rights. Getting the evidence is never easy but persistence pays off. My brother took his case to the highest court in the UK (House of Lords) which found in his favour, creating new case law. As his union had not supported him, he took action against them too, and that case has now reached the ECHR in strasbourg.

Much as I despise Blair, we are no longer talking about the Britain of the 19th Century, which treated elements of its own population abominably too. For many years - effectively since the Major-Reynolds declaration - the UK has had the complete confidence of the international community in its handling of NI. The US, the EU, the UN and the republic of Ireland itself all take the view that the UK is acting in good faith to achieve a fair settlement.