Cost of a United Ireland and the GFA

I think that '20 year' figure was suggested by someone who is repeatedly negative about Unity - John Fitzgerald.

Why it would prevent improvement in access to the single market you'll have to explain further.

What market? The ones we are now exploiting having reduced our dependency on the UK one. I don't think the losses are neccessarily going to be that great anyhow. Brexit will eventually settle down and you'll find people will get on with the new realities and learn to cope.

Fitzgerald figure is based on real data ie educational performance. Can't be disputed and the 20yr is how long it took us to improve from a similar position.

We covered all this yesterday. Read back, see contributions about 'full membership/subsidies/ and what being a full member means.

Understand that is why NI voted to remain fully in the EU.

See also where I said to the same question: That while more difficult trade with the UK is possible, it would be quickly outweighed by all the other benefits and opportunities of full mmebership and a functioning all Ireland economy. The benefits for society here as a whole would be massive.

Correction, it is an 'interpretation' of the data. Easy to say but harder to prove.

In saying that there is no doubt education in NI is a victim of the failed state like so much else. IMO it won't be fixed until the cause is removed.

Here is what I said and I stand over it:

Correct and right

Over 1 million people from Norn Ireland identify with being Northern Irish. So when the protocol is implemented these people and more will realise that having the best of both worlds and remaining within the UK and having open border with the Republic makes sense for all. Thats why unification is disappearing further and further into the mythical future and won`t happen for at least 2 generations thank goodness

So you agree with him that educational standards in NI hinder FDI?

Of a certain type, yes. Not all FDI requires highly educated workers. Again I say transition will take a while but ultimately that investment will have a pay of for all on the island.

And would you agree that 20yrs is a reasonable timeframe as that is roughly how long a full education takes?

The majority wanted to remain in the EU. That is not a lie and hasn't been misrepresented by me.

And by all polling that number is increasing, now polling at 59%

Why though, what does unity change that could influence this?

The island of Itreland is already funded by all the taxpayers living in it and whatever FDI and investments can be attracted.

However. that is not enough, the government here still borrows many billions every year and N.I still needs many billions every year from taxpayers on UK mainland. A U.I. would not magically change the economy of the island, it would be worse if anything. Imagine if there was a leftist SF government in an all Ireland, FDI and multinationals frightened away, a disgruntled loyalist segment of the population agitating, violence resuming.... The only good thing 😏 is we would have compulsory Irish in schools in the 6 counties, roads and train stations renamed in honour of our heroes and a pension for the volunteers ( last time the government gave a IRA pension to 60,000 volunteers after independence - no reason to suspect Mary Lou would not be as generous ).

Don't you worry, when we are taxing unicorns and rainbows on the downhill slopes (there are no uphills) in the land of milk and honey, that gives you every reason to believe that the absence of partition and a fair, inclusive and equal society will fix all our problems.

In all seriousness, there has been a lengthy exchange on this, (from which I have stepped back in recent pages from as a result of mod feedback) and that has given me the perspective to realise that there is no economic argument for a united Ireland. Northern Ireland is in a mess at the moment, but the tools to fix it are all there in the hands of the local politicians and have been for the last few decades, the problem isn't partition, the problem is the failure of the politicians to take the correct actions which is causing their current problems. Ditch the DUP and SF and things will quickly be a lot better in the North. The other point is that the potential of the North is higher with partition than without, because of the Protocol. Access to both UK and EU will inevitably attract FDI once the other problems are sorted. Therefore the ceiling is higher with partition.

On the other hand, unity puts a huge burden on the Southern taxpayer, access to the UK is lost for the NI economy, creating a shock to the local economy that could lead to social disorder, which could further put FDI down here at risk, isn't it no wonder that not a single advocate of unity on these pages can put forward a coherent case for any economic benefit out of a united Ireland?

The best that they can come up with is it will be all right on the night and other meaningless platitudes including the US will pay for it and the government has to come up with a plan. No plan could have stopped Covid, no plan could have stopped the economic collapse in 2008 (though FF made it worse) and similarly no plan can make a united Ireland make economic sense.