How many of us think that unification is no longer a priority and don't really want unification ?

You're more likely to get Scotland as an independent member of the EU.

The nordy true believers don't even recognize the Kirk of Scotland as true Christian anymore.

Ive been hospitalized in the North and in the Republic in recent years. The difference was chalk and cheese. I am very dubious about any article that says Irelands health service is better than people think.

You can be just Irish and get your unemployment, education, pension, healthcare etc while living in the UK. And wanting to stay in the UK.

The % in N.I. wanting to join the 26 counties has not changed much in 100 years.

On the other hand I had a lot of hassle accessing the NHS when living in England, which I was entitled to do as a rate payer. Getting an appointment was proving so protracted that why I was back in Ireland for a holiday I rang my old GP, got a walk in for the next day and blood test results before I went back to England.

My other half was working briefly in the NHS and also the HSE and they're take on it is demographics are overloading the UK systems whereas the likes of the primary care centres here do manage to keep a lot of locally treatable problems out of A&E.

We're still going to get slammed as our society ages, but it does seem like there's a more proactive energy in Ireland about adapting to needs than you'll find in the UK where it can be difficult to talk about failings without being branded as anti NHS.

I would vote no in the republic purely for economic reasons, the public service in the north is so over bloated that any economic benefits from other areas would be hardly noticed. I think the north would be better off on its own as a independent country. It would have to cut out inefficiencies to keep afloat and both sides would have to work on their getting their own house in order in all aspects (economic, social, etc) rather then trying to offload that responsibility to the UK or Ireland.

The worst scenario would if the north voted yes but the republic no. It would leave a lot of people in the north rethinking their identity / losing a large part of their reason for working and living in the north.

Not sure what your agenda is re the health service here but you sure as hell have one.

Can't be too sick if you haven't needed a GP for two years.

In emotive votes like this will be dragons and unicorns count for a lot.

I'm very surprised people don't think it would pass in the south.

To me it's guaranteed whenever it happens.

I don't know how I'll vote but it will pass.

I contacted a TD and asked for help. They said if I was on a medical card they were legally required to find a GP for me, but as I am a PAYE worker and not on a medical card it is a case of tough sh!t.

From the HSE website:

If you cannot find a GP in Ireland,

 

the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) can assign you a GP if you hold a medical card or GP visit card and have been refused by at least three local doctors.

But if you are a PAYE worker and earn "too much", you wont get a medical card or a GP visit card. So as I said, "tough sh!t".

I'm not looking for free healthcare. Im at the:

stage.

@LambshankRedemption

I don't know what to say really. I've never had a problem getting a GP in Ireland, and I've moved around a good bit. Are you in an area with few doctors?

This thread demonstrated one thing. Of the last four pages there have only been 2 or 3 posters who are sure a UI border poll would pass. I was a little nervous saying I didn't want it, expecting a ton of outrage and backlash. It turns out most people felt similar.

On the other hand this discussion has happened here so many times, especially since Brexit that most know their position on the matter, so the issue isn't a current hot topic. I think the post Brexit customs alignment has removed the urgency that had been felt, and now with London realigning with Europe on some things it doesn't feel as pressing.

With the customs alignment there's a lot of cross border business happening that has grown servicing both the EU and GB.

Still though I think we may end without a UI because of the UK disintergrating under the English nationalism of some future Reform/Tory coalition.

There's loads of thorny questions that have to be answered first including potential minefields like what about the unionists?

Support for UI differs North and South. Up there it’s deep but not wide - many on one side already strongly support it. Down here it’s wide but not deep. For most it’s a nice to have extra that is occasionally considered. Given the unique gravity of the decision, supporters of UI will have to do more than sell the idea and win a political campaign. They must make sure that informed consent is obtained, that voters know the main potential hazards and what will have to be done if they arise. Otherwise we could be in for a messy divorce down the road.

The boarder with Northern Ireland has been a talking point for a 100 years because we have been conditioned like barking seal pups at the dinner table, in school and by politicians that a United Ireland is 18 months away at every Fianna Fail Ard Deis since Eamonn DeValera wore short pants. This conveniently helped us ignore problems like clerical abuse, financial cartels like banking, food cartels like the beef tribunal and Haugheyism. Shure you couldnt make the stuff up.

The reality was Northern Ireland was a no go zone for most of the country. It has poor agriculture, not much mineral deposits, no manufacturing. Just British civil service jobs and a few film projects.