The anxiously awaited result of the 2001 census in Northern Ireland, announced yesterday, gave encouragement to both Protestant and Catholic politicians. The British government is committed to a referendum on Northern Ireland becoming part of the Irish Republic if the demographics suggest that such a change might be supported by a majority; the proportions of Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland is therefore a hot political issue. Yesterday's figures showed the make-up as 53 per cent Protestants, 44 per cent Catholics; ten years ago it was 58 per cent and 42 per cent respectively; forty years ago it was 63 per cent and 35 per cent. The gap is narrowing, but perhaps not as quickly or as much as Sinn Fein and other Republicans had expected.
N. Ireland´s census
20/12/2002 00:00
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