Would You Pay More Tax To Save The Dream Of A United Ireland? Episode 731

Niall talks to Stephen Delaney and Cormac Lucey about one of the biggest political and economic questions facing the island of Ireland, should there finally be a border poll on a United Ireland?

It has now been 28 years since the Good Friday Agreement, yet there has still been no referendum on Irish unity and no clear roadmap towards a 32 county republic. While support for reunification continues to grow in some quarters, others warn that the emotional argument for unity is very different from the economic reality.

The North of Ireland has been financially supported by the UK Treasury for decades, with billions spent every year to sustain public services and infrastructure. So if a United Ireland became reality tomorrow, could the Republic actually afford it? Would Irish taxpayers accept higher taxes, cuts to services or major economic adjustments in order to reunify the country?

Cormac Lucey examines the hard economic questions surrounding Irish unity, from public spending and healthcare to pensions, welfare and taxation. Meanwhile Stephen Delaney discusses the political and cultural arguments, and whether the dream of a United Ireland should outweigh the potential financial cost.

Would you vote yes or no in a border poll?
Should Ireland be united no matter the price, or is the economic risk simply too great?