Thanks again. Great to see you touch on the unification economics.
I struggle with this idea that ireland will be gifted cash to take on Northern Ireland. Having voted in favour of unification, we have no bargaining power with the UK in exit negotiations, and whatever gets gifted by the EU or the US will be minuscule in comparison to the lost Westminster subvention.
The UN raised just 6bn in aid in the wake of the 2004 tsunami which killed a quarter of a million people. Northern Ireland needs 10 to 15bn every year.
On the housing debate, I completely agree on the ideology nonsense. Who pays for the housing isn’t the problem, it’s how can we build more. I think the centre ground in Irish politics have been leaving this goal wide open for the leftist populists to keep scoring into for far too long. It’s about time they planned and delivered some practical solutions that at least demonstrate they’re doing all they can to help the housing problem. Because there’s a narrative out there that they’re just happy to sit back and let the market fix the issue (when it’s not), and the lack of progress on workable solutions leaves them ill-equipped to fight back against that narrative.
Your point about negotiating power is an excellent one. Relying on the kindness of cash strapped U.K. could well be tricky. If the economics are difficult the socio-political consequences will be even tougher. Depends how badly everyone wants this. Friendly persuasion of unionists would, I think, help. To that end I suggest the Republic should offer moving the capital to Belfast. Might even get Dublin house prices down….a solution to the housing crisis? Move Dublin port up north as well? Solve the city’s traffic problem?
For anyone who doesn’t know me, I am a Brit with the usual dry sense of humour, etc etc.
All of that will go down as well as the cultural shift from an “Amhrán na bhFiann” Ireland to an “Ireland’s Call” Ireland.
I think people in the Republic only favour unification if it’s on their terms and the “no way we won’t pay” brigade don’t pick up the tab for it. Who should pay? Rich people. Who are they? Everyone richer than me.
Thanks again. Great to see you touch on the unification economics.
I struggle with this idea that ireland will be gifted cash to take on Northern Ireland. Having voted in favour of unification, we have no bargaining power with the UK in exit negotiations, and whatever gets gifted by the EU or the US will be minuscule in comparison to the lost Westminster subvention.
The UN raised just 6bn in aid in the wake of the 2004 tsunami which killed a quarter of a million people. Northern Ireland needs 10 to 15bn every year.
On the housing debate, I completely agree on the ideology nonsense. Who pays for the housing isn’t the problem, it’s how can we build more. I think the centre ground in Irish politics have been leaving this goal wide open for the leftist populists to keep scoring into for far too long. It’s about time they planned and delivered some practical solutions that at least demonstrate they’re doing all they can to help the housing problem. Because there’s a narrative out there that they’re just happy to sit back and let the market fix the issue (when it’s not), and the lack of progress on workable solutions leaves them ill-equipped to fight back against that narrative.
Your point about negotiating power is an excellent one. Relying on the kindness of cash strapped U.K. could well be tricky. If the economics are difficult the socio-political consequences will be even tougher. Depends how badly everyone wants this. Friendly persuasion of unionists would, I think, help. To that end I suggest the Republic should offer moving the capital to Belfast. Might even get Dublin house prices down….a solution to the housing crisis? Move Dublin port up north as well? Solve the city’s traffic problem?
For anyone who doesn’t know me, I am a Brit with the usual dry sense of humour, etc etc.
Indeed!
All of that will go down as well as the cultural shift from an “Amhrán na bhFiann” Ireland to an “Ireland’s Call” Ireland.
I think people in the Republic only favour unification if it’s on their terms and the “no way we won’t pay” brigade don’t pick up the tab for it. Who should pay? Rich people. Who are they? Everyone richer than me.