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Should there be a united Ireland?
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All of Ireland would be stronger as part of the UK

Ireland and the UK share a language and do a great deal of business together, ti would make sense to combine the two and allow Ireland to benefit from the larger economy that is the UK
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The Argument

Reunification with the Republic of Ireland, especially one in the foreseeable future, creates an unstable environment for Irish citizens and raises numerous questions in the process. For example, will residents of Northern Ireland be able to claim both British and Irish nationality? Will a united state entail transitioning Northern Ireland to fit under the Republic of Ireland's present structure or will such a plan resemble a federal system? Such questions have yet to be answered. And until feasible and beneficial solutions have been deciphered, it is within Northern Ireland's interest to remain in a stronger position as part of the United Kingdom.[1] Economically, the Republic of Ireland is completely ill-equipped to handle the financial costs of maintaining Northern Ireland— the United Kingdom's poorest region. Northern Ireland's own declining economy is attributed to the province's distance from its markets and sources of raw materials, as well as high transportation costs.[2] However, in remaining part of the United Kingdom, these problems are easily remedied. And as a result, Northern Ireland easily benefits from both the financial support provided by the United Kingdom, and the UK's much larger economy; especially as about 74 percent of Northern Ireland's imports and 82 percent of their exports involve trade with the rest of the UK. [3] Thus, it will not be constructive to leave a desirable trade position with the UK for a future that will see an even greater demise of Northern Ireland's economy.

Counter arguments

Northern Ireland would not be stronger as part of the United Kingdom. Instead, Northern Ireland will suffer the greatest negative economic impact as a direct result of Britain's adoption of Brexit. Specifically, this will occur given Northern Ireland's considerably closer economic relationship with the EU, and particularly the Republic of Ireland, compared with any other part of the United Kingdom. While less than 50 percent of UK merchandise exports are destined for the EU, about 60 percent of Northern Ireland’s exports are to the EU, and of that more than half go to Ireland. Thus, even though a united Ireland— whether that be with the UK or the Republic of Ireland— is largely a political issue, but one with dangerously serious economic implications for Northern Ireland.[4]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] Talks of reunification are not thoroughly discussed. [P2] The Republic of Ireland is unable to financially support Northern Ireland. [P3] Unification could promote flashpoints of violence.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/10/ireland-britain-brexit-reunification/600328/
  2. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/united-ireland-the-south-of-ireland-doesn-t-want-us-and-can-t-afford-us-1.3584278
  3. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/northern-ireland-loyalist-paramilitaries-uk-extremists
  4. https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/a-united-ireland-would-be-worse-off-than-the-republic-1.3010177
This page was last edited on Sunday, 28 Jun 2020 at 01:30 UTC