UK is a democracy, IRA are terrorists, end of story.
Northern Ireland lags the Republic because of terrorist violence.
don't even know where to begin. It was brilliant for the UK to bring these people into the political process...if they hadn't, you would still be seeing lots of blood on the streets. That is a fact. Peace was never going to come about in the north without these people feeling like they had a voice in the process. and I say this as someone who's family members have been shot and killed by both sides. Just took my last trip there, my 13 to date, a few years ago and the change is amazing and wonderful.
As for the roaring economy of the republic, the north doesn't lag because of terrorists acts (ira activity has pretty much stopped), rather the republic has initiated some forward thinking economic polices that has catapulted them ahead of the north.
I get the feeling that you would rather have bloodshed and violence, then give any concession whatsoever, to peace-seeking members of SF.
That's really unfortunate.