Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will consider establishing a cross-departmental research programme to evaluate the economic, social and constitutional implications of any future moves towards Irish unification (details supplied). [62808/25]

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

83. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if her Department has undertaken or commissioned any recent analysis of the potential fiscal implications of Irish unification; and the estimated level of subvention currently provided by the UK Government to Northern Ireland. [62801/25]

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

179. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration has been given to potential fiscal mechanisms or funds that could be used to support economic convergence between North and South in the context of any future constitutional change. [62802/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 83 and 179 together.

The approach of the Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects and affirms everyone’s right to make the case for the constitutional future for Northern Ireland they wish to see - whether they are nationalist, unionist, or do not identify with either tradition.

The Programme for Government reiterates the constitutional commitment to the unity of the Irish people and sets out the Government's key priorities in this regard: addressing the legacy of the past, promoting reconciliation, and building our Shared Island.

Following the restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland and a significant improvement in bilateral relations between Ireland and the UK, the Government is focused on addressing those challenges and supporting the full and effective operation of all three strands of the Good Friday Agreement in order to unlock the full potential of our island.

Work continues across the three strands of relationships as well as under the Shared Island Initiative to enhance the prosperity for all the people of these islands and to strengthen the all-island economy.

Over €600m has now been allocated from the Shared Island Fund to undertake sustained, strategic action and investment to improve people’s lives and strengthen connections across the island of Ireland for our shared future.

On 18 November, as part of the National Development Plan Review, the Government published our Shared Island investment priorities across virtually all sectors through to 2035.

The Programme for Government commits an additional €1bn to the Initiative to that date. Shared Island projects include the construction of the iconic Narrow Water Bridge, the Ulster Canal restoration, and a wide range of projects to bring civil society together or to deepen our understanding of how we can best work together to confront the key challenges we all face on the island: healthcare, climate, transport, housing, and more.

The Shared Island research programme is providing high-quality evidence and analysis of the whole island, on economic, social, cultural and political issues.

In April, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin launched a new phase of the Department of the Taoiseach’s joint Shared Island research programme with the Economic and Social Research Institute. This includes a new annual report series by the ESRI assessing economic trends across the island of Ireland, the first of which will be published next month.

The Government will continue to engage constructively with all communities on how we build a shared, reconciled future on the island of Ireland, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

In the event of a future referendum, we will make all necessary preparations in accordance with the relevant articles of the Constitution and within the consent provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, including the economic analyses relevant to the question of the subvention.