Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious that other people wish to come in. I am not trying to curtail debate. Perhaps we will park the Senator's questioning for the moment and pick it up in the second round, if that is okay. Deputy Feighan is, unfortunately, not online so I will take the Fine Gael slot. I have a couple of questions and will constructively challenge some of the things the witnesses have been saying. I welcome their work. I note, in particular, that they come from a trade union perspective, which I welcome. It is important to get that view.

One of the key things we heard previously from the unions related to the questions of pay, North and South, for the same jobs. I was surprised to hear the starting salary for a primary school teacher is far higher in the South than in the North. My question is practical and political. I know our guests are not politicians but are economists. However, the debate in the South and, I think, in the North is about what a new island would like, what the differences are now, how we could merge and which key indicators need to change in respect of some of the issues the witnesses have talked about, including reducing child poverty, inequality, ageism and all of that. From a practical point of view, are there studies, or is the NERI doing studies, on the convergence of the social welfare systems? I know people in different unions would not be interested in that. I am trying to ask the question in the right way. Should we not be able to examine coldly and calmly the differences for those who want change and what it might mean for the economies?

The other point I want to make is that since Brexit, there has been a lot more North-South trade. That has made a considerable difference because it has brought a new perspective to businesses, North and South. Perhaps the witnesses would like to comment on that. Those are areas I consider important.