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Arlene Foster has joined other unionist politicians in criticising Bertie Ahern. Alamy

Ex-DUP leader Foster criticises Bertie Ahern over Belfast 'ghetto' comments on NI protocol

The former Taoiseach said loyalists who are opposed to the Northern Ireland Protocol “haven’t got a clue” about how it works.

FORMER DUP LEADER Arlene Foster has called on Bertie Ahern to apologise for referring to parts of Belfast as “ghettos” in comments he made about loyalists and the Northern Ireland Protocol yesterday.

Speaking on RTÉ earlier today, the former Taoiseach defended his use of the phrase, and said people shouldn’t “get themselves in a knot” over it.

“If you want to take an issue about ghettos, you can say that you shouldn’t use the word ‘ghetto’, we’re talking about deprived areas,” he said. 

Ahern said loyalists who are opposed to the protocol “haven’t got a clue” about how it works while speaking at an event hosted by Dublin City University’s Brexit Institute yesterday.

“I spend a lot of my life still in the North. The reality is in East Belfast and in the ghettos and in the areas where you’re likely to get trouble, is that people haven’t got a clue about the protocol, not a clue,” Ahern said.

“They see it as identity… They see it as a road to the Dublin Government taking over again and this is a pathway to that,” he added.

The remarks drew a swift response from unionist politicians and Foster added her voice to the rebukes today.

“He needs to reflect on his words and apologise. Calling areas in Belfast ‘ghettos’ is not a good look,” she wrote on Twitter today.

The Northern Ireland Protocol is one of the key elements in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that legally enabled the UK to leave the European Union.

It means Northern Ireland effectively remains part of the EU’s single market for goods. It allows goods to flow freely between Ireland and Northern Ireland and removes the threat of a hard border.

The European Union and the UK remain deadlocked in negotiations over how the protocol is implemented.

Discussing loyalist opposition to the protocol, Ahern said the idea that it is about trade “just passes them by.”

“It’s seen as a trick by the south to move the border from across the island, and to put it down the Irish Sea, as a trap for government.

Even those who you might consider to be a bit more intelligent and articulate. That is the difficulty.

“(DUP leader) Jeffrey Donaldson well understands how we might get over the detail, and the reason he keeps on about the other issue is because he’s trying to – which I don’t blame him for – he’s trying to serve the loyalist community as well,” he added.

Foster joins DUP MP for East Belfast Gavin Robinson in calling on Ahern to apologise for his remarks.

“To associate East Belfast with a ghetto and suggest loyalists are not able to understand the protocol is demeaning and degrading,” he said.

“People in my constituency who can’t get their Amazon parcels from another part of the United Kingdom well understand the impact of the protocol.”

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    Mute James
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:26 PM

    Ulster unionists summed up.outraged at everything, ashamed of nothing.

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    Mute alan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:43 PM

    @James: journal republican comments summed up. The vitriol and hatred directed at unionists here would be enough for any loyalist to worry about having anything to do with the republic. It’s one thing to disagree but the tone here is unnecessarily aggressive. However, ahern is pretty on the money here whatever about the wording. But then again, as I’m sure ahern would agree, wording is no small matter in NI

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    Mute Peter McGlynn
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:11 PM

    @alan: being assertive and calling out their bs is not aggressive. There are fair minded loyalists but they aren’t represented in the DUP.

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    Mute James McErlain
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    Nov 19th 2021, 2:51 PM

    @alan: BTW, there isn’t a country called the Republic. Ireland’s name is Ireland and has been since 1937 when the people of Ireland voted in a Constitutional Referendum to change the name of our country to Ireland, from the Irish Free State & to change the status of the country to A republic. Because it is A republic only the people of Ireland have the power to change Ireland’s name & they haven’t been asked to change it since 1937.

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    Mute Barbara Coleman
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:06 PM

    @alan: Well not a word about Unionists here from FF & FG over the years. Lording Paisley over the years and the daughter actually taking the chair of Late Late !!! Any hard questions from RTE interviewers were reserved for SF others treated with kid gloves. ! Make u ashamed to be Irish. !!!

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    Mute alan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:08 PM

    @James McErlain: thanks for the history lesson. My point was that if unionists were to read some of the stuff here then it would be no surprise if they were to worry. The dup are well matched by a lot of republicans. Which is a hindrance to change coming from both sides

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    Mute michael walsh
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    Nov 19th 2021, 5:26 PM

    @Barbara Coleman: Kenny live not the late late

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    Mute Geoff Dolan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 5:48 PM

    @alan:

    “The vitriol and hatred directed at unionists here would be enough for any loyalist to worry about having anything to do with the republic.”

    Yeah ,well, they haven’t done themselves any favours the last few centuries.

    They festoon their areas of Belfast and elsewhere in the North with Union flags. Members of their community will physically attack anyone they deem Irish Catholic or with a Southern Irish accent.

    On the 11th night of July, they burn not just “wee bonnys” but actual towering infernos that continue to smoulder into the Autumn. They use rubber tyres to ensure the fires burn with the ferocity deemed necessary.

    The festoon such bonfires not just with Irish flags, but EU, Polish, LGBT Rainbow and other ones not deemed flavour of the month by them.

    And to “protest” the Irish Sea Border, they have started burning their own public transport.

    The vast majority of Belfast’s racist attacks against minorities originate from these communities.

    It is very difficult to have any patience with a community whose members propagate fascistic homicidal sentiments, and try to pass it off as “cultur”[sic]

    Michael G. Hopf’s quote “Strong Men Create Good Times, Good Times Make Weak Men, Weak Men create Bad Times” is actually quite blinkered, but in the case of the Loyalist communities, this seems to have rung true.

    In their heyday only they would get secure jobs on Belfast’s Ship Yards. Now unemployment and drug abuse is quite high in that community whilst the majority of Queens Belfast student body is Irish Catholic.

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    Mute James
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    Nov 19th 2021, 8:12 PM

    @Geoff Dolan: well said geoff.completly agreed.nobody likes them,English nationalists must be wondering who are these fanatics that love queeny so much

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    Mute Elaine Phelan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 8:15 PM

    @James: she literally said exactly what he said they believe, and it’s untrue

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    Mute Owen O'Murchú
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    Nov 19th 2021, 8:31 PM

    @alan: don’t worry Alan most of them can’t read.

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    Mute Angela McCarthy
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    Nov 19th 2021, 8:44 PM

    @James McErlain: Only that the change to a republic didnt happen until 1949 James, and that only applied to the 26 county state whereas the island of ireland, is the country known as Ireland – you know the one which no Irish person decided to partition.

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    Mute Darren Anthony Corr
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:36 PM

    Not often I’d agree with Bertie, but his remarks are correct.
    Also, definition of ghetto: Segregated communities where minority groups live. Often victims to economic and social disadvantage with high crime rates.

    Pretty much fits the bill of east Belfast where we have minority groups, involved in crime and drug trafficking, segregated from the rest of society. Yeah.

    If the shoe fits.

    Can’t wait to see how Foster will spin this on GB News. This might actually be hilarious to watch.

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    Mute Alan McArdle
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:40 PM

    @Darren Anthony Corr: exactly. Ghetto has negative connotations but the tag fits. Typical of unionists to tackle the semantics rather than the broader point. Bertie is spot on.

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    Mute Liam Preston
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:25 PM

    To associate East Belfast with a ghetto is giving a bad name to ghettos.

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    Mute Brendan Luke Ferron
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:17 PM

    I can’t get my Amazon package, let’s burn a bus!!

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    Mute ianglen
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:28 PM

    @Brendan Luke Ferron: or two..

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    Mute D
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:35 PM

    Not a Bertie fan, but he is “on the money” here. Many “working class” , so called loyalists, are being led by the DUP and other extreme “loyalists” into believing that the Protocol is somehow diminishing their “Britishness”. Whereas the reality for many employers in NI is that the Protocol gives them access to the U.K. and the EU. A win win. But the ghetto loyalists (many of whom work for such employers) cannot (or refuse to) see the reality. The DUP are responsible for much of the current problems through blindly supporting Brexit and believing Boris and his lies. Karma

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    Mute Antaine O'Labhradha
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:05 PM

    The truth hurts, doesn’t it, Arlene?
    Loyalists have never been known for possessing outstanding intellects.
    They don’t think for themselves. They think what unionist politicians trigger them into thinking. The protocol gives the six counties the best of both worlds, economically. I can still get all my eBay and Amazon shopping without difficulty or paying extra. If I can’t buy British sausages, big deal – I always buy Irish sausages anyway. Keep my own people in work, not foreigners.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Braonáin
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:15 PM

    Northern Ireland used to be the epicenter of innovation on the island of Ireland. The truth is that since 1921 they’ve gone backwards in terms of innovation.. just to give you an example. There was a man called Harry Ferguson who made many many important inventions and today what he created is still used.

    There are many poorer areas in the north that need help but loyalists paramilitaries have kept them in the dark ages. They are literally pawns in a game of politics.

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    Mute Willie Bill Bryan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:48 PM

    Telling the obvious does not ring any bells for Arlene or the DUP or the Duped Unionist Party to give them their full title

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    Mute Pól Ó'hAodha
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:02 PM

    He’s not wrong

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    Mute Anne Warren
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:34 PM

    Can’t face the truth

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    Mute Joe Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:49 PM

    @Anne Warren: Bertie Aherne couldn’t tell the truth even if he tried.

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    Mute Daniel Roche
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:12 PM

    @Joe Kelly: so are you saying his lying about what he said.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Nov 19th 2021, 6:51 PM

    @Daniel Roche: The Tribunal that investigated Ahern called him a liar.

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    Mute Charles Coughlan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:15 PM

    Elvis sang a sing about that place.

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    Mute Adrian O'Donnell
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:33 PM

    @Charles Coughlan: and a mother cries…

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    Mute Joe Byrne
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:32 PM

    Who is Bertie Ahern anyway? He is a has been and should keep his comments to himself.

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    Mute WiseUp
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:35 PM

    @Joe Byrne: He was a key member of the team that negotiated and finalised the GFA so if he is gonna comment on something, this is probably what he is best placed to comment on.

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    Mute Eoin Roche
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:16 PM

    @Joe Byrne: He might be long out the picture, but few know the N.I. question better than him. And in his comments, he is 100% right.

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:55 PM

    @Eoin Roche: I disagree. Bertie was never great seeing beyond the obvious. The trade barrier on the Irish sea will lead to much more integration between North and South. It starts with trade and then. . .

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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Nov 19th 2021, 2:09 PM

    Why apologies for a correct statement?

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    Mute Stephen Campbell
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:25 PM

    How is this woman still getting air time…

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    Mute ianglen
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:24 PM

    Britain is largely irrelevant in the modern world now. Whatever the UK does it’s just another mediocre European country, Arlene needs to remember that imo.

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    Mute iohanx
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    Nov 19th 2021, 2:04 PM

    @ianglen:

    Disagree. UK certainly living in challenging times now, what with the muppets running the show currently. However they do have the ability, people, character and know how to turn it around in the future. No question about it.

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    Mute Will
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    Nov 19th 2021, 2:09 PM

    @ianglen: “Britain is largely irrelevant in the modern world now. ”

    I know puttin down the Brits is our national past time but that’s simply not true, London is still one of the world’s major financial hubs and the destination of choice for most immigrants coming to Europe.
    Also, if Britain is irrelevant what does that make little old Ireland?

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    Mute Thisguy
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    Nov 19th 2021, 2:31 PM

    @Will: It makes Ireland relevant. Now put that in your tobacco pipe and smoke it.

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    Mute James McErlain
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:00 PM

    @Will: Ireland is a respected member of the world’s largest trading block. Its called The European Union. Britain is a has been run by conmen.

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    Mute Michael Flanagan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:20 PM

    I toured the Titanic centre in Belfast and saw technology that was cutting edge for its day. Belfast was like NASA when it manufactured the large ships.
    Sad to see such a dip but I believe that there are enough intelligent Unionist people to see the benifits of the protocol.

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    Mute Skeleton Cat?
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:31 PM

    Ya see gangsters do wear suits, not all from the Ghetto,

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    Mute Skinny Melink
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:54 PM

    Ah yes Bertie Ahern who stood at the helm of a government that drove the Irish State into mass debt and corruption and emigration. A banking mess that we won’t recover from for generations. . He should’ve stayed in that cupboard ad and clang his kettles, pots etc.

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    Mute Barrycelona
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:21 PM

    @Skinny Melink: Just because We don’t like somebody doesn’t mean that once in the blue moon they can’t have a decent thought. Leo and MM and Simon should be fighting our corner instead of celebrating partition.

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    Mute Richard Ahern
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:24 PM

    @Skinny Melink: Well said, he’s a total em em emb8rrassment, like, at de end a de day. Dats wot I tink. Also, why in God’s name does Pat Kenny keep dragging him to his morning programme to spout his drive1?

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:29 PM

    @Skinny Melink: And what does that have to do with the truth of what he has to stay?

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:33 PM

    @Richard Ahern: Is he wrong? is that what you are trying to say? Again there are no darker places on the continent of Europe than the UDA- and UVF-controlled ghettos of loyalist Northern Ireland…

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Nov 19th 2021, 1:40 PM

    Bbbbb Bertie

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    Mute Sean Shanahan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:22 PM

    Bertie, I don’t have a bank account,FFS,

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    Mute Jack Russell
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    Nov 19th 2021, 3:16 PM

    Snowflakes (for Christmas). Bigots and faux outrage in the little orange state

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Nov 19th 2021, 12:55 PM

    To be fair Bertie needs to suck it up! there are rundown areas throughout this island , he should try and stop drinking the Bass.

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:28 PM

    @Paul Mc: There are no areas of Ireland that are comparable to the UDA- UVF_ controlled ghettos of NI mate…

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    Mute Mike Dé Vere
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:52 PM

    The Unionists looking a gift horse in the mouth.

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    Mute Sean Shanahan
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    Nov 19th 2021, 4:22 PM

    Bertie, I don’t have a bank account,FFS,

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    Mute Paul Guckian
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    Nov 19th 2021, 6:17 PM

    I was listening to Bertie being interviewed on Newstalk this morning. Why does Pat Kenny have Bertie on so regularly? Bertie stated that the loyalists didn’t understand the benefits of the NI Protocol. Said the man who does not understand economics.

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:31 PM

    @Paul Guckian: And what is your point? Are you saying Berties was wrong? There are no darker places on the continent of Europe than the UDA- and UVF-controlled ghettos of loyalist Northern Ireland…

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:23 PM

    Foster, a woman indelibly linked to loyalist terror gangs, the UVF, criticising a former Taoiseach. Dreadful comments by her, a dreadful sectarian bigot…

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    Mute Soinbhe Lally
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    Nov 19th 2021, 5:49 PM

    Hahaha! Doesn’t the ex-taoiseach know that in unionist-speak, only Catholics live in a ghetto.

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    Mute Cumidhe Ofhloinn
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    Nov 19th 2021, 7:43 PM

    Darned crocodiles Darlene, eh wot eh wot

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    Mute David Lynch
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    Nov 19th 2021, 8:35 PM

    Is he not right , all areas have a ghetto.

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    Mute Leo Sharkey
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    Nov 19th 2021, 9:30 PM

    @David Lynch: There are no darker places on the continent of Europe than the UDA- and UVF-controlled ghettos of loyalist Northern Ireland…

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    Mute Johnny Kelly
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    Nov 19th 2021, 6:05 PM

    She would

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