Dr. Alan Barrett:

This is fascinating for a variety of reasons. The first I will speak about is one on which I admit no expertise. Economists are not psychologists but something that is fascinating is the extent to which people in Northern Ireland have an attachment to the NHS even though the reality of the system they confront is so far removed from what we would typically think of as the NHS. It is an ongoing mystery as to why there is ongoing attachment to something that is patenting not working. It is beyond our competence to explain how this can be.

In Senator McGreehan's earlier questions she asked about the notion of a framework for co-operation. Rather than thinking about a framework, the key point is that normally in life where people can see there are mutual benefits in doing something, they will run with it. I have had conversations with unionist politicians in Northern Ireland, as I am sure has Senator McGreehan. While there are sensitivities and there can be difficulties, somebody once said to me that fundamentally the main drive of most politicians is to make life a little bit better for their constituents than it otherwise would be. If we can sell certain things on the basis there are mutual benefits, it does not have to be threatening in a constitutional sense. It is really just about making life on the island better for all citizens, North and South, under whatever political dispensation.