John McGahon (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This has been a really good debate so far. Professor FitzGerald touched on my view around this, which is that if a referendum was held it is somewhat likely to be passed in the North but could get defeated here based on the cost. I say that as someone who comes from the Border region in Dundalk. I say that as someone who would vote for a united Ireland regardless of the cost. That is my personal position. Where I come from one would think that because of its proximity to Northern Ireland people would be quite in favour of it but I could see quite a lot of people saying, "Do you know what, that is just too much money for us and I am not interested in paying a tax or an increase on my income tax for the next 20 years for that." This could be the case particularly if there were no moves in Northern Ireland to try to initiate reforms, for example, as the witness suggested with the education system, that would minimise the cost somewhat. I am talking anecdotally here and it may not be a lot of people saying this, but if this position is being considered by people in a Border region what are people in Munster or at other ends of the country thinking about it who have no kind of real lived experience of Northern Ireland or the Border, or who have family connections across it, or are even in Northern Ireland for X amount of time? This is difficult. Perhaps the difficulty of it is trying to convince Northern Ireland to make those reforms in the first instance because it is beneficial for them whether they stay in a united Ireland or not. That is the issue with it. I believe that would be extremely difficult to do.

We spoke of East Germany. Recently I met someone from where I live who went to Germany in 1988 and worked in East Germany. He says that Dresden is now an economic hub and is absolutely flying. I do see how that would happen with Northern Ireland after unification but there are also questions about that. I agree with the premise that there is no way Britain will turn around and be generous towards this. Why would they when they have to look at Scotland as well? They would just be looking at a bill. I believe the cost will end up on the Irish Government. What does the Irish Government do? Will it be a solidarity tax or something like that where a person pays another 6% on income tax for 20 or 30 years afterwards? Is that what people in Ireland would have to pay? Should the Government turn around now - and this could be difficult - and say "Look, for the next 20 years in anticipation of a referendum perhaps happening in ten or five years we will start putting money aside to mitigate the cost? What do the witnesses believe the Irish Government should be doing with that? What is more likely? I do not believe it is likely the Government will start putting money aside now so it necessarily is going to be an increase on the Irish taxpayer for a united Ireland.