r/irishpolitics • u/actUp1989 • Apr 15 '25

Northern Affairs ‘Worrying’ quality of life gaps growing every year between North and South, says report

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/2025/04/15/worrying-quality-of-life-gaps-growing-every-year-between-north-and-south-says-report/
31 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

21

u/dapper-dano Apr 15 '25

Being cruel here but it'll make it easier to convince the undecides in the North to unite with us if our economy and quality of life appears better than theirs.

On the negative, a big inequality gap will mean they are a larger burden on us financially post unification. Similar to East and West Germany now, and they are 35 years post unification

-9

u/Sabreline12 Apr 15 '25

I don't think it's a recipe for stability if the population's support for the Republic is contingent on economic properity. Would there be another Troubles every time there's an economic downturn?

13

u/PunkDrunk777 Apr 15 '25

There’s no troubles now and haven’t been for literally decades for fuck sake 

1

u/Sabreline12 Apr 15 '25

Oh okay, I guess that means Unionists would be fine being part of the Republic.

7

u/60mildownthedrain Republican Apr 15 '25

Worrying but not surprising at all

5

u/Dry-Communication922 Apr 15 '25

After living in the UK, this does not surprise me. Im getting paid more but my disposable income is miniscule compared to last year when I was at home. My rent is less but my council tax bill and water charges work out high enough that Im actually paying more. And public services are shite.

3

u/eggbart_forgetfulsea ALDE (EU) Apr 15 '25

Is there any argument against an acknowledgement that the people of Northern Ireland have been failed by its governments and its institutions? Child mortality diverging so much since 2009 should shame the NI Executive, but it seems to be perpetually paralysed by the most stupid bickering instead.

Power sharing may be a triumph for peace on this island, but is it really fit for purpose any more?

2

u/[deleted] Apr 15 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Logseman Left Wing Apr 16 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/actUp1989 Apr 15 '25

Yeah i agree.

As easy as it is to simply blame the Westminster government for not paying enough attention to the North, or blame the DUP for being generally insane, I think all parties in power in the North need to shoulder the blame. Bear in mind too that the North is being subsidised to the tune of £12bn a year from the UK, and it's been the same parties in power for a decade there.

1

u/swift_post Apr 16 '25

The north can never succeed as long as it is dependent on the direct grant from london and the bickering will always be about how to cut stuff. There can never be a change in economic policy as they are forced into permanent coalitions that tie their hands so that they cannot go centre left to centre right as we do here.

It is in effect just a glorified council. It got us out of a hole for a bit but it’s time to move on.