Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 21 September 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement
Finance and Economics: Discussion (Resumed)
Mr. Justin McCamphill:
That is certainly an issue. In my day job, I represent teachers in Northern Ireland so obviously I work very closely with Mr. Boyle’s colleagues. We find there are pushes and pulls in terms of going to the South to work. We are finding a lot of our post-primary members are interested in work in the Republic of Ireland and many are making the move because of the difference in salaries. Many are reluctant to go to Dublin because of the accommodation issues. I do not believe there is as much movement at primary level. I think it is the language requirement that puts them off. The reality is it is a divided community in the North. One community, even without having learned too much Irish, will have had more exposure to it over the years where another, who might be starting from a zero baseline, would be put off. Of course that is something that would have to be considered if we are looking at a new Ireland.