Latest news with #unitedIreland
Irish Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
A tricky question on Good Morning Britain for Mary Lou McDonald
Does the island of Ireland contain two badly-run economies or one, or none? The question arises following Mary Lou McDonald 's appearance on Monday's Good Morning Britain on ITV. After calling for a united Ireland, the Sinn Féin president was asked by presenter Richard Madeley: 'Why do you want Northern Ireland still so badly? Because, economically, I think it's fair to say it's close to being a basket case at the moment. This country pays it a huge amount in terms of subsidies to Ulster, far more than we get back.' This question was full of horror for unionists, in language and tone. Madeley's view of Northern Ireland as a different country leaching off his own is presumably widespread. A decade ago, ITV dropped a plan to change the title of Good Morning Britain to Good Morning UK. Perhaps it thought the audience would be as confused about the distinction as its presenter. But the question was also full of traps for McDonald, even if Madeley appeared to have sprung them unwittingly. READ MORE Since 2013 Sinn Féin has insisted Northern Ireland requires almost no subsidy, as the £10 billion-plus subvention is a perfidious British accounting trick. In recent years it has simultaneously condemned the Irish Government for economic mismanagement while boasting that the Republic is booming and could easily afford what costs of unification remain. The party restated this two weeks ago, following an academic report. Its subvention claim assumes Britain would continue paying State and unfunded public service pensions to Northern Ireland, without collecting any taxes. Although this is highly implausible, it is Sinn Féin's position and McDonald was put on the spot over it. Describing Northern Ireland as a basket case might also have raised republican hackles. Sinn Féin has co-governed Stormont for almost two decades. Since the start of this decade it has increasingly claimed leadership of economic policy, taking control of the Department of Finance and adding the Department for the Economy last year, when it also took the First Minister's chair. Sinn Féin has used these positions to develop what are supposedly flagship policies on labour market reform, an industrial strategy and fiscal devolution. It has sought credit for Northern Ireland's unique post-Brexit trading arrangements, claiming these have grown investment and cross-Border trade. [ John FitzGerald: Irish unification would hit South harder than 2008 crash Opens in new window ] This seizing of the reins has been accompanied by promises of prosperity for all through Stormont, serving the goal of a united Ireland. Sinn Féin has given every impression of having resolved the conundrum, for republicans, of how to govern Northern Ireland successfully while also seeking to end its existence. The party could claim this is beginning to work, although few of its policies have yet been implemented. Northern Ireland has been the best-performing part of the UK since Brexit by some measures and even its subvention is no longer an outlier: Scotland had a slightly larger subsidy per head in 2023. Scottish nationalists point to this to argue for rejoining the EU through independence. Sinn Féin could do likewise. Instead, McDonald simply echoed Madeley. 'The North is consistently in economic difficulties because it is not economically viable as a territory,' she replied. The Sinn Féin president then headed off to her main engagement in London, alongside First Minister Michelle O'Neill, to address the UK's Foreign Press Association on a united Ireland. Both women made their case, yet again, in terms of Northern Ireland requiring almost no subvention. Sinn Féin could say none of this is necessarily contradictory and it is delivering economic progress in Northern Ireland despite the poor hand history has dealt it. But McDonald could not bring herself to say this on ITV. Obviously, Sinn Féin is tailoring its message to different audiences. [ Leo Varadkar: 'All trends point towards Irish unification in the next few decades' Opens in new window ] The message to the British public is 'let us take this expensive burden off your hands', without revealing it expects Britain to keep paying the bills. The pensions claim is to reassure the Republic unification would be painless. Even a perfectly manageable amount of pain is seemingly too much to ask. Constant complaining in the Dáil about the Irish economy is to be expected of an opposition party. But Sinn Féin is a party of government in Northern Ireland and people there hear its contradictory spinning elsewhere. On Tuesday DUP Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said Sinn Féin ministers 'need to be open with the public – are they working to promote our economy or have they simply binned it as economically unviable?' While this is unlikely to cause a serious row at Stormont, the depressing long-term implications are starting to sink in. Sinn Féin has not resolved the conundrum of making Northern Ireland work, nor is it giving serious economic thought to a united Ireland. It is just marking time until a Border poll – still maybe decades away – by telling everyone whatever it thinks they want to hear.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
The first year of a United Ireland could cost €3bn
The first year of a united Ireland could cost €3bn (£2.6bn) according to a report which describes it as "well within what could be afforded".The research, from Dublin City University and Ulster University, has calculated the cost of unity over the first 10 suggests the cost has been exaggerated partly because of how much the UK government subsidises Northern Ireland being "misinterpreted and misunderstood."It also suggests if Northern Ireland was back in the EU the potential growth has not received enough attention. How is the cost worked out? The subsidy from the UK government is the difference between how much tax is raised in Northern Ireland, and Northern Ireland's share of the overall UK report estimates that number will be €1.7bn (£1.5bn).This is after breaking down pensions, debt, defence, UK central costs, and taxation, and is much lower than other estimates of €11.5bn (£10bn) to €16.1bn (£14bn).The report arrived at the €3bn (£2.6bn) first year total cost by taking that €1.7bn (£1.5bn) into account, plus an additional €1bn (£0.86bn) in public spending for "necessary investment", as well as the added costs of wage and pension recommends public spending in Northern Ireland should increase by €1bn (£0.86bn) a year to deal with necessary investment in health, welfare, education, and says this additional spending should be maintained, as a minimum, for 10 years. There would also be the added cost of equalising public sector sector wages in the Republic are on average 48% higher than those in Northern Ireland – impacting 29% of the entire NI labour report suggests it would cost an extra €152m (£131m) each year over 15 addition, it suggests the transfer of public sector and state pensions would cost an additional €115m (£99m) a year over 40 said: "This is well within what could be afforded, and allows scope for additional investment, as the economy grows, beyond the €1bn (£0.86bn) a year of additional spending built into this model."Depending on economic growth, it suggests Northern Ireland would end its need for a subsidy in five to nine growth in the Republic averaged 3.2% a year from 2000 to 2024, whereas growth in Northern Ireland averaged just 1.3% over the same with the south would therefore be likely to see a significant increase in economic growth. Report author Professor John Doyle, Vice President for Research in Dublin City University said:"With the same set of policies on education, infrastructure, tax and Foreign Direct Investment, there is no obvious reason why Northern Ireland would remain so much poorer and so much less economically productive that, for example Munster.""Convergence with the more productive and wealthier Southern economy will take time, but the deficit will close much more quickly," he University Economic Policy Centre's Dr Eoin Magennis said: "This paper sets out the ambitious level of growth needed to close gaps in public finances but also the time that will be needed to produce such a necessary convergence.""How to do that – through improving educational outcomes in NI or adopting different infrastructural choices – will mean a fresh set of choices needing to be made," he added. 'Not convincing' However Dr Esmond Birnie suggests Professor Doyle is minimising the assumed financial costs of a "United Ireland"He said: "Prof Doyle, as in his 2021 ARINs article, rather optimistically assumes that the UK government would both meet all public sector pension obligations and release NI from its pro rata share of UK public debt."He describes the report's funding requirements under different future growth scenarios as "not all that convincing.""It would be desirable if NI moved on to a higher growth path but chronic under-performance in the NI economy suggests some of these things are not easily changed.""Major constitutional change is neither a necessary or sufficient condition of improving economic performance and this report does not provide evidence that a United Ireland per se would spur performance," he added.
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Farage hits back at former Irish leader's claim he would destroy the UK
Nigel Farage has dismissed claims by Leo Varadkar that he would destroy the UK if he becomes prime minister. The former Irish taoiseach predicted that the push for a united Ireland would take 'centre stage' if the Reform UK leader was to win a future general election. Mr Varadkar told BBC Northern Ireland that a Farage government would 'double down on Brexit', which would bolster Irish unity and Scottish independence. He said it was possible that England's 'volatile politics' could mean Mr Farage would become prime minister after elections in either four or nine years. Mr Farage hit back at the claims by Mr Varadkar, who was Ireland's prime minister during the Brexit negotiations, during which time he became a bogeyman for Brexiteers and unionists. 'I have heard all of this before,' said Mr Farage. 'They said that a vote for Brexit would end the Union. It didn't and nor will the Reform government.' Labour views Reform as its main rival in a future UK parliamentary election, which must take place by 2029, after the latter took hundreds of seats in local elections this year. Last week, a poll said that Mr Farage could win an outright majority and become prime minister if an election was held tomorrow. Mr Varadkar praised Sir Keir Starmer for his reset in relations with Dublin and Brussels since becoming Prime Minister. The former Fine Gael leader played a key role in agreeing the withdrawal agreement, which created the Irish Sea border between Britain and Northern Ireland 'Prime Minister Starmer might be re-elected for a second term. It's equally possible, not probable but possible, that Nigel Farage could be prime minister of the UK in four years' time, or in nine years' time,' he said. He added that Mr Farage and his supporters believed that Brexit 'had not been done properly' and would roll back the reset. 'What you'd see is an attempt to rescind many of the things that Prime Minister Starmer and his Government have done [and this would] bring the United Kingdom even further away from the European Union,' Mr Varadkar said. He added he hoped Mr Farage would not become prime minister but said it 'would change the picture in terms of attitudes towards independence in Scotland'. 'I think it would change the views of some people in the middle ground in Northern Ireland [towards Irish unity],' he added. 'It isn't just because a Right-wing nationalist government in London would want to bring the UK and Northern Ireland away from Europe. It is other things as well,' said Mr Varadkar. He added that Reform-run councils in England were 'preventing people from flying Pride or progress flags'. 'I don't think most people in Northern Ireland would like that,' he told the BBC. The Belfast or Good Friday Agreement states that the secretary of state for Northern Ireland must call a referendum if it 'appears likely' a majority wants a united Ireland. A border poll must also be held in the Republic. While polls show large support for reunification, they also consistently show a majority in favour of remaining part of the UK in Northern Ireland. Mr Varadkar has become an outspoken advocate for Irish unity since he resigned as taoiseach last year because of his low popularity ratings. His successor Simon Harris and coalition partner Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fail, went on to overturn a commanding Sinn Fein lead in the polls to stay in power after elections last year.
BreakingNews.ie
20-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
United Ireland should be new state that ‘can be better for all of us'- Varadkar
A united Ireland should not be 'annexation of six more counties' but a new state 'that can be better for all of us', a former taoiseach has said. Leo Varadkar also said he hopes the current Irish government takes the decision to establish a forum to lead discussions on unity, and also appeared to dismiss concerns of potential loyalist violence in reaction to a united Ireland. Advertisement Mr Varadkar, who stood down as taoiseach in April last year, said he believes he will see a united Ireland in his lifetime but warned it is not inevitable. He said that he has had no regrets so far since leaving elected politics, and is enjoying both 'a lot of personal and intellectual freedom to say what I think'. Former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams listens to former taoiseach Leo Varadkar (Liam McBurney/PA) He was speaking at an In Conversation event with Rev Karen Sethuraman at St Mary's University college in west Belfast, hosted by Feile an Phobail and Ireland's Future. Former Sinn Féin president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams was among those in the audience for the event. Advertisement Mr Varadkar stressed that a united Ireland 'has to be a new Ireland that is better for everyone'. 'That includes a bill of rights, guarantees civil protections and liberties,' he said. 'Unification, in my view, is not the annexation of six more counties by the Republic of Ireland. It's a new state and one that can be better for all of us, an opportunity that only comes around every 100 years, which is to design your state and design your constitution.' In terms of what the current Irish Taoiseach is doing, Mr Varadkar described the Shared Island Unit, which was set up when he was Taoiseach, as really positive. Advertisement But he said he would like to see the Irish Government lead a forum ahead of unity. 'Just saying it as an aspiration isn't enough anymore, it should be an objective and an objective is something you act on,' he said. 'One of the ideas that I would put forward, which could help to move on this discussion, is the establishment of some sort of forum.' He said there was the New Ireland Forum in the 1980s, and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the 1990s. Advertisement Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that there is a 'strong case' to convene the parties interested in union (Liam McBurney/PA) 'I think there is a strong case now for us to convene the parties that are interested in talking about this, unions, business groups, civil society in a forum to have that discussion, but I don't see how that can happen if that isn't led by the Irish Government, and I hope at some point during the course of this five-year government, a decision will be taken to do that,' he said. Meanwhile, asked how he felt potential violent opposition to a united Ireland could be handled, Mr Varadkar suggested he felt 'only a very small minority may turn to violence'. 'I know there are people south of the border who, when I talk to them about reunification, express to me concerns that there might be a very small minority within unionism who may turn to violence,' he said. 'I don't think we should dismiss that as a possibility. I don't think it will happen, to be honest. Advertisement 'In two referendums, both north and south, people would be very clearly giving their preference as to what should happen, it would be quite a different situation to when partition happened 100 years ago and it wasn't voted for. 'I don't think that would arise but I think it's a reasonable question.' Meanwhile, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly suggested Mr Varadkar was 'wrong in terms of the trajectory' towards a united Ireland, insisting the number of people voting for nationalist parties, around 40%, 'hasn't moved since 1998'. Mr Varadkar said he was in politics long enough to not respond to someone else's comments without hearing them in full, but said the case he is making is not just based on the percentage of people who vote for nationalist parties, adding it is clear the percentage voting for unionist parties has fallen. Earlier, Mr Varadkar visited nearby Colaiste Feirste where he heard about the growth in Irish medium education, and plans to build a new Irish Language Heritage and Interpretive Centre, An Spas Din. School principal Micheal Mac Giolla Ghunna said: 'We have grown a vibrant Irish language community from our base in the Gaeltacht Quarter, leading to challenges for us in terms of accommodation and teacher provision. 'But far from limiting our ambitions, we are now using the Sportlann facility and initiatives like our GaelStair heritage project to offer our pupils and the wider community further opportunities.'
The Independent
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
United Ireland should be new state that ‘can be better for all of us'- Varadkar
A united Ireland should not be 'annexation of six more counties' but a new state 'that can be better for all of us', a former Irish premier has said. Leo Varadkar also said he hopes the current Irish government takes the decision to establish a forum to lead discussions on unity, and also appeared to dismiss concerns of potential loyalist violence in reaction to a united Ireland. Mr Varadkar, who stood down as taoiseach in April last year, said he believes he will see a united Ireland in his lifetime but warned it is not inevitable. He said that he has had no regrets so far since leaving elected politics, and is enjoying both 'a lot of personal and intellectual freedom to say what I think'. He was speaking at an In Conversation event with Rev Karen Sethuraman at St Mary's University college in west Belfast, hosted by Feile an Phobail and Ireland's Future. Former Sinn Fein president and West Belfast MP Gerry Adams was among those in the audience for the event. Mr Varadkar stressed that a united Ireland 'has to be a new Ireland that is better for everyone'. 'That includes a bill of rights, guarantees civil protections and liberties,' he said. 'Unification, in my view, is not the annexation of six more counties by the Republic of Ireland. It's a new state and one that can be better for all of us, an opportunity that only comes around every 100 years, which is to design your state and design your constitution.' In terms of what the current Irish Taoiseach is doing, Mr Varadkar described the Shared Island Unit, which was set up when he was Taoiseach, as really positive. But he said he would like to see the Irish Government lead a forum ahead of unity. 'Just saying it as an aspiration isn't enough anymore, it should be an objective and an objective is something you act on,' he said. 'One of the ideas that I would put forward, which could help to move on this discussion, is the establishment of some sort of forum.' He said there was the New Ireland Forum in the 1980s, and the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in the 1990s. 'I think there is a strong case now for us to convene the parties that are interested in talking about this, unions, business groups, civil society in a forum to have that discussion, but I don't see how that can happen if that isn't led by the Irish Government, and I hope at some point during the course of this five-year government, a decision will be taken to do that,' he said. Meanwhile, asked how he felt potential violent opposition to a united Ireland could be handled, Mr Varadkar suggested he felt 'only a very small minority may turn to violence'. 'I know there are people south of the border who, when I talk to them about reunification, express to me concerns that there might be a very small minority within unionism who may turn to violence,' he said. 'I don't think we should dismiss that as a possibility. I don't think it will happen, to be honest. 'In two referendums, both north and south, people would be very clearly giving their preference as to what should happen, it would be quite a different situation to when partition happened 100 years ago and it wasn't voted for. 'I don't think that would arise but I think it's a reasonable question.' Meanwhile, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly suggested Mr Varadkar was 'wrong in terms of the trajectory' towards a united Ireland, insisting the number of people voting for nationalist parties, around 40%, 'hasn't moved since 1998'. Mr Varadkar said he was in politics long enough to not respond to someone else's comments without hearing them in full, but said the case he is making is not just based on the percentage of people who vote for nationalist parties, adding it is clear the percentage voting for unionist parties has fallen. Earlier, Mr Varadkar visited nearby Colaiste Feirste where he heard about the growth in Irish medium education, and plans to build a new Irish Language Heritage and Interpretive Centre, An Spas Din. School principal Micheal Mac Giolla Ghunna said: 'We have grown a vibrant Irish language community from our base in the Gaeltacht Quarter, leading to challenges for us in terms of accommodation and teacher provision. 'But far from limiting our ambitions, we are now using the Sportlann facility and initiatives like our GaelStair heritage project to offer our pupils and the wider community further opportunities.'
