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Sinn Féin plays down McGuinness health concerns in wake of resignation

Pearse Doherty says the party veteran is getting the best of care and is expected to make a full recovery.

SINN FÉIN’S PEARSE Doherty has said Martin McGuinness is getting the best of care and is expected to make a full recovery, in the wake of his resignation as Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister yesterday.

Viewers were shocked at the appearance of the veteran Derry politician when he made a televised address yesterday afternoon to confirm his departure from the role – likely triggering an election.

euronews (in English) / YouTube

“He’s had health problems, he’s going through treatment. He’s getting the best of care and I expect him to make a full recovery,” Doherty, the party’s finance spokesman in the Dáil, told Claire Byrne Live. 

“He’s been involved with our negotiation teams right over the Christmas period – when many people were off he was still working,” the TD said.

McGuinness had been engaged in the party’s discussions on what to do about the rumbling ‘cash for ash’ controversy throughout the period, Doherty insisted.

He’s still at it – up and running and doing what he’s always done, which is leading from the front.

McGuinness stepped down as Deputy First Minister in response to the long-running controversy over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The move came after the First Minister, the DUP’s Arlene Foster, ignored repeated calls for her to step aside while an investigation is carried out into the scheme.

There are questions over how long Foster, who was the minister with responsibility for the scheme from its inception in 2012 until 2015, knew the initiative was flawed.

“Health has got absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever,” McGuinness told journalists yesterday, following weeks of speculation about his condition.

The concerns first emerged when he withdrew from a planned official visit to China on medical advice before Christmas.

“Martin McGuinness is fulfilling his responsibilities as deputy First Minister working with his departmental political advisers,” a statement at the time said.

There has been no disruption to the work of The Executive Office during this period.

However, speaking later last month Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams suggested that his colleague’s health was affecting his work. According to the Derry Journal, he told party members his condition was making efforts “to ensure the stability of the political institutions” in Northern Ireland “even more problematical at this time”.

It’s believed McGuinness is receiving treatment for a heart condition – although full details of the nature of his illness have not been revealed.

Speaking on Morning Ireland today, RTÉ’s Northern Editor Tommie Gorman said the journalists in the room when McGuinness was making his announcement yesterday were “visibly shocked” at his appearance.

The Sinn Féin politician had used “the retirement word once or twice” recently, Gorman noted.

Sinn Féin has seven days to nominate a new deputy first minister in the wake of McGuinness’s resignation – but the party says it won’t.

Under the terms of the power-sharing arrangement, it’s up to Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire to make the next move next Monday – and the law says he must call an election.

Read: McGuinness resignation: The latest chapter in a remarkable political career >

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59 Comments
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    Mute Niall H
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:44 PM

    DUP+UPP=KKK

    375
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    Mute CitizenSmith©
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:51 PM

    The other lot up there are hardly people you’d have round for mince pies either

    69
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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:56 PM

    UUP + ? = UPP

    48
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:59 PM

    I’m down with OPP yeah you know me.

    76
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    Mute richard fennessy
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:01 PM

    Citizen smith how old r u 3 ???

    76
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    Mute CitizenSmith©
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:06 PM

    I’m 3 and half and I’m up very late

    45
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    Mute Thomas Aquinas
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:31 PM

    AAA+PBP+SF=-10%GNP + 25%CPI + 15%APR

    21
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    Mute emeraldninja
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:35 AM

    FG+L* FF=AWOL+MIA+IOU/DOA..

    56
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    Mute Mike
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:47 PM

    Of course it was. The First Minster should be ashamed of himself. Nothing more than a S hit stirrer. 10s of millions wasted on policing. A democratic decision was made and the so called Democratic Unionist Party go against it.

    356
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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:51 PM

    They hate . It’s bigoted and depressing. Contempt their mutual friend.

    251
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:59 PM

    As long as you have unionist leader’s keeping the working class unionists poor there will be no change in the sheep’s attitude towards our nationalist brother’s in the 6 counties.

    243
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:32 AM

    Will there ever be a change in nationalist attitudes towards us?

    25
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    Mute Joe McDonnell
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    Dec 4th 2014, 1:23 AM

    Adrian the point is that conservative parties like the UUP and DUP care as much about the working classes as our own Fine Gael and the British Tories do which is sweet f all.

    If the unionist people forgot about tribalism and voted on pure policy alone then large sections would vote Sinn Fein.
    I know obviously that won’t happen but the less well off unionists have no one fighting their corner. It’s no surprise that they’re now the ones falling more into poverty and a lot less likely to progress in the education system than the nationalist population.

    120
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    Mute Paul Darby
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    Dec 4th 2014, 3:55 AM

    Don’t think its just nationalists thaf have a problem with these loyalists bigots.The british taxpayer has to be getting sick of footing the bill for all this carry on.When Jeremy Paxman is starting to see the light you know you have a problem.

    81
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    Mute Sternn
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    Dec 4th 2014, 10:52 AM

    It’s a very similar situation to what you see in the southern states in America. GOP candidates win repeatedly because of their views on guns and God, so the people vote against their own best personal and economic interests focusing on one single topic.

    The loyalist areas like the American south are becoming impoverished, uneducated areas with no jobs, no investment in the infrastructure, and no future but hey – at least they will be able to fly the flag they like over their little shanty town!

    It’s a race to the bottom for the working class in those areas because they have been conditioned to worry more about ‘being British’ than about jobs/education/their childrens futures/etc.

    17
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    Mute Johnny boyo
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:50 PM

    Confused children of the island of Ireland for forty generations and still think they belong to the Union Jack. Confused.com

    231
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    Mute Charles J. Ahern
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:51 PM

    It began the Loyalists Against Democracy facebook page which has posted near daily updates of Willie Frazer, Seamie Bryson and their cohorts actions. Absolutely hilarious insight to the insight of such narrow minded idiots and bigots!

    188
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    Mute Eoin Mulhern
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:55 PM

    All of this over a god damn fleg. Don’t they have anything better to do or what?

    166
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:11 AM

    If it’s so unimportant why did SF break their necks to try and have it removed?

    26
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:58 PM

    .. “46% of unionists thought the protests should continue”…

    95
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    Mute Big Yellow Crane
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:13 PM

    Bullshit.

    19
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    Mute Jamie McCormack
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:47 PM

    That’s what the report says.. You reckon it’s higher?

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    Mute Big Yellow Crane
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:31 AM

    I think the report set out to validate the “alienation” of a tiny group of people no bigger than the Glenavon away crowd on a wet weekend. 37 people convicted of a crime were “10%” of all protesters. So all protesters were less than 400 people. I wouldn’t accept that 46% number without sample size, selection pool, method and the definitions used – including the definition of unionist and continuing protest. And then I still wouldn’t accept it as it’s obviously bogus. If someone says should people have the right to protest peacefully at the City Hall that could be the antithesis of support for violent protest.

    32
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    Mute Seán O'Sullivan
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 10:53 PM

    They hate. It’s bigoted and depressing. Contempt their mutual friend.

    88
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    Mute Terri O'Gorman McCormick
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:20 PM

    And this is a surprise why?

    50
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    Mute TR909
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    Dec 4th 2014, 6:16 AM

    It saddens me that Unionists won’t move on from the past, almost as if they miss being the victim and everyone can now see a lot of them for what they are: nasty, sectarian, racist and homophobic.

    43
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    Mute Mike
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    Dec 4th 2014, 3:20 AM

    Really Adrian/ James or whatever name you use???? Like all terrorists, FILTH

    I was a UVF member too by the way, I now try and council this entire populous. We need to find that bump in the road that sent us all astray, that’s our starting point.

    42
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    Mute Tommie 2cans
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    Dec 4th 2014, 1:19 AM

    Those Protestants up to no good as usual!

    40
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    Mute Mike
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    Dec 4th 2014, 3:41 AM

    Adrian McBride

    Nov 22 9:55 PM

    I was a UVF member too by the way, I now try and council this entire populous. We need to find that bump in the road that sent us all astray, that’s our starting point

    32
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    Mute Liam Treacy
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    Dec 4th 2014, 9:48 AM

    And Ian Paisley was 90% of the cause of the troubles becoming inflamed in NI. His rants and sectarian speeches against peaceful protest brought militant onto the streets attacking the Peoples Democracy. The rest is history…..
    It was sickening for someone of my vintage to hear him described as a peacemaker.

    23
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    Mute CitizenSmith©
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:01 PM

    It’s interesting that one of the related hashtags is #flegs because making fun of pronunciation is still classy

    14
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    Mute Padraig Mac Floinn
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:14 PM

    You’re right of course . Making fun of accents is abhorrent – much more reprehensible than stirring up sectarian violence , intimidating and threatening death to moderate leaders in Alliance and attacking the police . And all to prove how ‘British’ they are

    131
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 11:22 PM

    ‘Bwitish’?

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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:27 AM

    Have to laugh at how republicans are suddenly outraged about attacking the police lol

    15
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:33 AM

    @Adrian McBride, Didn’t you claim to be a member of the UVF? A lot of blood on your hands, but laugh it up.

    84
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:36 AM

    I was 13 when the ceasefires came about in 1994.

    7
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:37 AM

    If you want to make constant allegations then tell me your real name and I’ll report you to the police. Name?

    8
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:39 AM

    Why did you join the UVF? Nothing more than a sectarian death squad.

    78
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:41 AM

    Are you gonna keep making false allegations? If so then I’m gonna report you.

    9
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    Mute JayoMoonshine
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:41 AM

    And you running the UVF in 1994 at 13? What are doing now? Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon?

    71
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:41 AM

    A fake twitter as expected. Coward.

    8
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:42 AM

    Yeah I must be, might go for emperor of Japan next, plenty of time.

    8
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:44 AM

    You made the claim yourself! A truly obnoxious but of trolling if it’s not true. A lot of families still mourning.

    http://www.thejournal.ie/gregory-campbell-toilet-paper-1794090-Nov2014/

    70
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:46 AM

    Yeah I know a few still mourning from Irish republican violence which is still ongoing if I might add.

    9
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:49 AM

    So it was all just some kind of joke? Classy.

    69
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    Mute Adrian McBride
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:51 AM

    Are you going to continue to make these allegations towards me?

    8
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:59 AM

    @Adrian McBride. You said I was making false allegations against you and that you were going to report me to the Police. Could you explain your logic please.

    Anything I said was directly quoting your own claim made on November 22 2014 that you were a member of the UVF.

    http://www.thejournal.ie/gregory-campbell-toilet-paper-1794090-Nov2014/

    You are now suggesting that your claim was false, right? Any chance of an apology?

    70
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    Mute Coles
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    Dec 4th 2014, 1:28 AM

    Whatever. And I’m not your mate.

    65
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Dec 4th 2014, 7:02 AM

    Won’t be long now McBride, bringing the corporation tax into line with the rest of the island is a step towards unification, in order to take full advantage of this rate Ulster will have to adopt the euro. When this rate leads to a prosperous working environment Irish people will be flooding over the “border” for work. This coupled with unionists learning to speak Irish a dwindling support for the union and incompetent unionist politicians, its only a matter of time before the inevitable happens.

    50
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    Mute James Reardon
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    Dec 4th 2014, 9:56 AM

    Adrian you made them yourself you clown. Any time somethings said you don’t like you bring up republicans or the ira like the rest of the anti sinn feiners and anti irish. Your comments are below in black and white you ape.

    25
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    Mute Pádraic Ó Braonáin
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    Dec 4th 2014, 2:18 PM

    Adrian McBride you said you were a member of the UVF – The Catholic Killers – their main targets were innocent non combatant Irish Catholics – doorstep killers.

    By admitting to be a member of the UVF (and it sounded like a boast to me) you are inviting people to make obvious conclusions. To avoid “allegations” you should explain the extent of your involvement as a 13 year old. Perhaps you did nothing, or just knitted balaclavas, or a maybe a lookout, or you were spiriting guns away after the deed. What was the extent of your actual involvement Adrain? You need to clear this up or shut up.

    16
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    Mute Mike
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    Dec 4th 2014, 1:29 AM

    Same age as James…………….

    12
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    Mute Sternn
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    Dec 4th 2014, 10:42 AM

    This is why it does not matter if they are able to match our corporate tax rate in the North. Businesses will not relocate there knowing at any time something like a ‘fleg’ could bring their EU operations to a standstill for four months.

    11
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    Mute 1island1Ireland
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    Dec 4th 2014, 9:05 PM

    Adrian McBride just got owned lol

    4
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    Mute Darren Mccarthy
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    Dec 4th 2014, 12:07 PM

    If the UK vote to leave the EU ….how would that effect the broader between the north and south ? It then turns into a broader between a EU and non EU state, so does that mean passport control and restricted access ?

    4
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    Mute Big Yellow Crane
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    Dec 4th 2014, 3:40 PM

    Those things don’t exist between Sweden and Norway so probably not.

    6
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    Mute Darren Mccarthy
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    Dec 4th 2014, 5:20 PM

    Just wondering is all !

    4
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