Do we need an All-Ireland economy?

Jim236

Parties in Stormont were debating a motion today calling for increased harmonisation as part of an All-Ireland economy. But it ended up being just another green vs orange clash(no surprise there:rolleyes:) - http://www.independent.ie/national-news/parties-argue-over-benefits-of-allireland-economy-2183241.html

But do Sinn Féin have a point? Are 2 competing economies for such a small population sustainable? Pretty much all parties in the North agree that the rate of corporation tax needs to be reduced, in line with that of the Republic. But is the duplication of public services for a population of 6 million not a waste of billions every year? Billions which could go towards reducing the island's debt and helping the economic recovery.

If there ever was the political will on the part of Unionists to make it happen, assuming parties in the South were all for it, how could it be achieved under the current political structures? Would it require more sharing of sovereignty between Ireland and the UK?

Or is it, as Wallace Browne put it, just wishful Republican thinking and fantasy economics?

cson

The North is a bit of a basket case itself, so no.

Liam Byrne

Jim236 wrote: »

Pretty much all parties in the North agree that the rate of corporation tax needs to be reduced, in line with that of the Republic.

In which case a lot of the foreign investment would go North.....all the benefits without the associated basket-case of an economy.

Can't see this state being in favour of that!

And I also can't see the North being happy to fund NAMA and Anglo.

So complete fantasy with valid objections on both fronts.

ardmacha

In a time when public budgets are under stress on both sides of the paper there must be a clear effort to rationalise public facilities in border areas. Schools, hospitals, fire stations, water treatment plants etc. This has the unique advantage of saving money and in some cases actually improving the service to the public. If patients in Donegal are treated in Derry and don't have to travel to Dublin they will be less stressed and it will cost less. Bureaucratic heads need to be knocked together to achieve this.

Dannyboy83

Is the North more or less corrupt & inefficient than the Republic?

I'm guessing they'd want to be pretty bad to agree to do anything in conjunction with our crowd.

Fluffybums

Push comes to shove, would you give up a health system which is free at the point of entry, drugs cost 7.50 pounds (sorry can't find the symbol) and a significant proportion of the population don't have to pay at all, education system which is free (basic books are supplied), real motorways. Mind you unemployment is only 65.45 (single over 25) , minimum wage is only 5.80 so................................

ardmacha

real motorways.

What is more real about motorways in the North, apart from the general lack of them?

gurramok

Its already happening with northern contractors for example doing construction projects down here. They can compete on the price factor.

Likewise if we can do something cheaper up there..

murphaph

There must be at least a theoretical scope for rationalisation of services in border regions. There must be examples on both sides of the border where the nearest school, hospital, library etc. is in the other jurisdiction or there is duplication which could be eliminated. In practice however, achieving this will be very difficult: the costs of administering who pays for what could easily outstrip any savings made.

gurramok

murphaph wrote: »

There must be at least a theoretical scope for rationalisation of services in border regions. There must be examples on both sides of the border where the nearest school, hospital, library etc. is in the other jurisdiction or there is duplication which could be eliminated. In practice however, achieving this will be very difficult: the costs of administering who pays for what could easily outstrip any savings made.

Tell that to those at the back end of Cavan/Leitrim/South Donegal. They fail to realise that there is a hospital in Enniskillen.

Likewise for those in Dundalk, a lovely hospital exists up the road in Newry!!

ardmacha

In practice however, achieving this will be very difficult: the costs of administering who pays for what could easily outstrip any savings made.

These administration costs are largely in people's heads, it is all a question of how things are set up. Clear administrative structures for cross border health etc might also point the way towards administrative reform generally.

It might even be easier to get such reform underway as the service changes can genuinely be presented as improvements.

Tell that to those at the back end of Cavan/Leitrim/South Donegal. They fail to realise that there is a hospital in Enniskillen.

It is no accident that much of the discussion of the imact of health rationalisation in the Republic concerns Monaghan and Cavan and things like the relocation of services from Donegal to Galway, while in the North the debate centres on the location of hospitals in Tyrone and Fermanagh. Both Dundalk and Newry hospitals have been downgraded in favour of hospitals in Craigavon and Drogheda, yet there is a substantial population in the Newry/Dundalk area which sustains private facilities catering to the entire region. It is not a question of people not realising that, it is a question of the health authorities not making the proper arrangements. It has to be done now that there is a real need for cost savings and there is restructuring of services.