Sir, – Reading your analysis on the latest exercise to determine what the financial implications of reunification might be (“Price of united Ireland: Bringing North’s welfare up to scratch presents cost challenge”, Analysis, April 4th), it is hard not to conclude that if such an approach was reasonable it could be used by the richer parts of any State to jettison areas not generating surplus wealth. Why not hand Donegal and Leitrim, or any other parish calculated to be not paying its way, over to the British, or to whoever else might want it? Those living in the leafy suburbs, on the east coast in particular, could look forward to a significant improvement in their already handsome lifestyles.
But isn’t it altogether strange that we never hear such things emanating from London supporting the ditching of the North?
Are the English really that much more patriotic and loyal to each other than we Irish where many seem to cling to the view that money trumps everything? – Yours, etc,
JIM O’SULLIVAN,
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Rathedmond,
Sligo.
Sir, – Further to “Irish unity could cost €20 billion a year for 20 years, study finds” (News, April 4th), if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it. – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – The Institute of International and European Affairs Report heralding terrifying tax increases as a consequence of unification is a piece of scaremongering disguised as political science. Furthermore, the assertion that we will have to pay for it all ourselves serves only to undermine the negotiating position of any future Irish government.
On the contrary, the future of Northern Ireland is a shared concern of the UK and Ireland and the EU. In deference to the concerns of the unionist community, if nothing else, “unification” will have to be phased in over a lengthy transitional timeframe. The costs too will have to be shared over an agreed adjustment period.
Our comfortable fiscal surplus will obviously play into the equation, as should our growing reserve funds.
Moreover, as is the case with all underdeveloped regions playing catch-up, it is reasonable to assume that the economy of now Northern Ireland will grow more rapidly in the context of the business confidence instilled by the security of a permanent settlement and full membership of the EU. If the principles of the Windsor framework affording access to the UK market as well could be preserved, it could “turbo-charge” the catch-up process. It all goes to reinforce the far- sighted call of Labour’s Ivana Bacik for a full government department to prepare for the realisation of a full “Shared Ireland”. – Yours, etc,
JACK O’CONNOR,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Mark Hennessy’s article “Unification would lead to major drop in living standards, economist warns”, Analysis, April 4th) is a timely reminder of the reality that must be openly debated and clearly understood before any further political movement is contemplated.
The recent paper, authored by Dr John FitzGerald and Prof Edgar Morgenroth, for the Institute of International and European affairs, carries the competence and understanding of two of Ireland’s foremost economists and cannot simply be dismissed as just another attempt to put a damper on the expectations of those who want to see unity fast-tracked into existence.
We must also take into account the cost of added security in the likely event of a hostile reaction from many in the unionist community, who strongly oppose unity under any circumstances.
There seems much to ponder on what is clearly a complex and uncertain process. – Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
Killester,
Dublin 5.
Sir, – €20 billion per annum? Did anyone price how much just a couple of counties would cost? – Yours, etc,
DAVID CURRAN,
Knocknacarra,
Galway.
A chara, – Taking on the six counties as part of a united Ireland will apparently cost us €20 billion a year. It makes one wonder how much the so-called Border, Midland and Western (BMW) counties are costing us. What about Tipperary or Carlow?
How much do these counties “cost” us here in Dublin?
In the interests of fairness, a cost-benefit analysis should be done for all counties and Dublin can then decide which ones should be retained. – Yours, etc,
REAMONN O’LUAN,
Churchtown,
Dublin 14.
A chara, – Before or after the heat of a referendum on unification, it appears that a united Ireland is far from oven ready. – Is mise,
DERMOT O’ROURKE,
Lucan,
Co Dublin.