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The world’s least controversial topic is rearing its head again: the prospect of a united Ireland. A new report has just been published suggesting that uniting both regions would cost a whopping €20 billion per year for two decades. Or half as much as Bono pays for Botox.
United Ireland could cost €20bn a year for 20 years, says new study https://t.co/Kpk5TNAqQm
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) April 4, 2024
Much of this comes from the current cost of running Northern Ireland, which the report suggests is roughly €12.3 billion per year. Other costs include scaling up Northern Ireland’s welfare provisions to push it in line with the Republic’s, which is expected to add a few more billions.
Sinn Féin, which is part of a joint power share in the North and is the main opposition in the South, has already come out to dispute the figure, claiming the actual cost would be much lower. Given the UK and Irish governments recently played down the prospect of a united Ireland, both may try and save their money…
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SubscribeThe key question for me is who would pay the costs and how, otherwise it is just waving your hands about over big numbers.