Professor Edgar Morgenroth:

On previous research, a study modelling Irish unification that was published in 2015 came up with benefits on the basis of assuming that whatever subvention there was would, somehow or other, simply be found. There was no macroeconomic impact on the Twenty-six Counties, which is unrealistic, and a very substantial portion of the benefits were simply due to devaluation. The study also completely failed to take account of the current trading relationships between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, which would be disrupted in the event of a united Ireland. Personally, I do not take these results terribly seriously. They are interesting, but I think we can do a lot better in terms of modelling.

I agree with the Deputy about assumptions. There are probably differences among political parties as regards what they might like to see in the event of a united Ireland, so perhaps all parties could help in setting out what they think it should look like. That would give us some more concrete details that we could then model to see what the benefits of different possibilities might be. That would be a very interesting exercise.

I look forward to doing some of it.