An independent Scotland?

[klr]

They want to stay with the Bank of England at the moment. Cake and eat it etc..

The Republic of Ireland used to do much the same before they switched to the Euro.

Back in 1979, IIRC. When we joined the EMS* (the precursor to the Euro) and the UK stayed out, we had to break with Sterling. It was a long-term strategic decision. I remember the wild currency swings, especially on the odd days we were actually worth more than Sterling.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_E ... _Mechanism

But the original decision to stick with Sterling was made in a radically different environment to the one that Scotland finds itself in today.

[Cormac]

Re the above, I think a federal system would be workable. The Federation Of The Isles, to include Eire...

Eire won't ever be part of anything involving brits or vikings, of which Scots are descended.

Now, if you'd be decent and take your subjects out of the 6 counties so they can go back to Ireland without another major war...

Dublin, Limerick, Waterford - all Viking cities.

Loads of stuff here was the work of Vikings. Before they came here, we raided Britain in exactly the same way.

We've no real problem with Vikings.

And anyway, most Scots ARE Irish, or at least, of the same stock.

Besides which, Irish people have always liked the Scots and Welsh, and I have noticed people openly supporting English teams in public in the last couple of years.

I think we're finally coming to terms with our history. The Queen's visit, and what she said while here has had a big effect, I think.

There is also a perception growing that the UK and Ireland have similar views and interests in the EU.

Stranger things have happened.

[Svartalf]

Wasn't the punt a totally distinct currency?

[klr]

...

Besides which, Irish people have always liked the Scots and Welsh, and I have noticed people openly supporting English teams in public in the last couple of years.

I think we're finally coming to terms with our history. The Queen's visit, and what she said while here has had a big effect, I think.

There is also a perception growing that the UK and Ireland have similar views and interests in the EU.

Stranger things have happened.

National sides or clubs? I've never known a time myself when Irish people did not support English clubs. But English national sides ... I can't say I've ever seen a time where there was out-and-out hatred towards them. Ambivalence maybe, a love/hate relationship at times, but also ((I suspect) a lot of secret liking for English sides.

Wasn't the punt a totally distinct currency?

Never. Pre-1979, it was pegged to Sterling. From then until replacement by the Euro, its movement was limited within the framework of the EMS.

[Svartalf]

Dammit Cormac, you'll be making me puke... Yeah, I know what Donegal means, but Viking presence is long gone, in ways it never went away from the Hebrides or mainland Scotland... Scottish Gaelic owes quite a bit to Norse, not to mention it being derived specifically from Ulster dialect, unlike ordinary Irish (I don't know which dialect dominates it though, I always assumed Munster but am likely wrong)

[Cormac]

Simple : the EU does NOT have a member state called Scotland, since currently Scotland is an integral part of the UK.
Getting out of the UK means Scotland also gets out of the EU, until it is assessed to fulfill the criteria for membership, at least, and is accepted by all the rest.

Can you quote some laws or something?

EU law, by its nature, is pretty verbose. But the President of the EU has had his say:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... rship.html

Not by necessity, but often by design. For example, the Lisbon Treaty.

There is a substantial democratic deficit in the Eau, and there is a hard drive to create a fully integrated EU which is not necessary.

For example, there is a pretence that a fiscal union is necessary to create a proper banking union. (It is not).

[Cormac]

They want to stay with the Bank of England at the moment. Cake and eat it etc..

The Republic of Ireland used to do much the same before they switched to the Euro.

Nope.

[Cormac]

They want to stay with the Bank of England at the moment. Cake and eat it etc..

The Republic of Ireland used to do much the same before they switched to the Euro.

Back in 1979, IIRC. When we joined the EMS* (the precursor to the Euro) and the UK stayed out, we had to break with Sterling. It was a long-term strategic decision. I remember the wild currency swings, especially on the odd days we were actually worth more than Sterling.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_E ... _Mechanism

But the original decision to stick with Sterling was made in a radically different environment to the one that Scotland finds itself in today.

correctomundo!

[Cormac]

Dammit Cormac, you'll be making me puke... Yeah, I know what Donegal means, but Viking presence is long gone, in ways it never went away from the Hebrides or mainland Scotland... Scottish Gaelic owes quite a bit to Norse, not to mention it being derived specifically from Ulster dialect, unlike ordinary Irish (I don't know which dialect dominates it though, I always assumed Munster but am likely wrong)

Dialect as far as spoken Gaeilge is concerned isn't as important as it is made out. In my experience it is more of an accent thing.

When I lived and worked in Scotland, I could understand Scots Gaelic clearly.

We've got loads of Vikings still here.

A good friend of mine is the writer Olaf Tyaransen.

[Horwood Beer-Master]

...I Never heard the ubiquitous phrase paralleled 'Fuck the Scottish !' EVAH !

We prefer the more reserved "Bloody Jocks"

[Svartalf]

Bas lé an-tSassenach

[Horwood Beer-Master]

Bas lé an-tSassenach

Gesundheit.

[Svartalf]

Still paying homage to your german overlords I see

[Cormac]

Bas lé an-tSassenach

Can't we all just get along?

[klr]

The point about the Republic of Ireland staying pegged with Sterling was that the country was already independent, but economically was still very close to the UK - and would remain so for many years. The currency decision stood by itself. The SNP insistence on Sterling is much harder to justify.