Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

They are ordinary hard-working citizens. I was not up there for the shopping; I have not been up North for two years for that very reason because even going up to see a relative means one would be scrutinised and the cameras would be out but this is beside the point.

I have been told that a person working in a garage or in retail in the North can make a reasonable living and keep a family. The cost of housing rents and mortgages and the level of social welfare paid is lower in Northern Ireland. It is no wonder the price of everything is lower because the costs are lower. This forms a certain aspect of the price differential but the other reason is the rate of sterling and the UK VAT rates. These all combine-----

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