Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the publication of this interesting report which gives considerable food for thought by undertaking some economic analysis of issues arising in the event of the unification of Ireland.

It is very difficult to say whether the conclusions of the report in relation to the potential growth boost to the Irish economy would be borne out in practice. I note that the report’s conclusions are based on an economic model and on significant assumptions in that regard. The economies of the Republic and Northern Ireland have developed in very different directions in the past 90 years. There is a significant range of different legal, administrative, regulatory, and financial systems in place and Northern Ireland is an integral part of the much larger United Kingdom economy.

Regardless of the political structures in place on the island, there is an overwhelming economic case to be made for more economic engagement. I emphasise that this Government is fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement, to the principle of consent and to the institutions that were established at that time. The need to address economic business development matters on the whole island was recognised and resulted in the establishment of InterTrade Ireland, the cross-Border trade and development body. At that time there was very limited interaction between business North and South, relatively low levels of trade between both jurisdictions and untapped potential for better engagement. To combat this disadvantage and to seek to drive enhanced levels of business activity, InterTrade Ireland has, in the intervening years, operated a range of programmes and initiatives to develop economic linkages between businesses on both sides of the Border. This work has represented a modest but positive start to the process of developing an “all island” economy, regardless of political structures.

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