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Why not settle the question democratically and put it up for an all Ireland vote?

Because there is no such state or political community as "all Ireland".

Why not put it to an "all-Europe" vote, or an "all-British Isles" vote, or an "all Northern Hemisphere" vote, or, best of all, an "all-English speakers vote"?

The reason is that the people doing the voting under those proposals do not form a unitary entity, suitable for such voting.

But you know that.

"....The reason is that the people doing the voting under those proposals do not form a unitary entity, suitable for such voting...."

As I understand it, the Good Friday Accords established a framework for effective dual citizenship for persons living in Ulster as well as shared governmental oversight over the affairs of Ulster by the governments of the U.K. and the RoI. This seems like the acknowledgment of an unitary entity to me. Your assertion that no unity exists appears as no more than an evasion of the basic power of my position: that the status of Ulster is a political decision rightly determined by all franchised persons living in Eire.

For those of us who do not accept the legitimacy of the original absorption of the Eire into England or the later partition of Eire by the U.K., even this formality is unnecessary. Ireland is one nation by way of history, language, culture and tradition, as well as current de facto political agreement.

For your buddy, I hereby make a equivocating denunciation of the IRA. I denounce the Provisional IRA for its conduct of terrorist activities against civilians; destruction of private property; its criminal activities, organized and anarchic; its violent intimidation of all individuals no matter their ethnicity or political belief; its interference in the politics of third party nations and association with even more despicable terrorist groups internationally; and it noxious neo-Stalinist ideology and pernicious effect on Irish political life generally. I do not denounce the legacy IRA for its heroic service in 1916 and subsequent struggle against colonialism and partition. Nor do I denounce the provos for defending oppressed communities otherwise defenseless against sectarian violence and military intimidation by foreign armies, brown shirts and paras. Full stop.