Does the Irish Republic want reunification?

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BBC Radio 4 - Does the Irish Republic want reunification?

Rising taxes, changes to flags and anthems. It’s more complicated than it seems.

Andrea Catherwood investigates what the new, highly-educated, liberal, Irish Republic thinks about the possibility of their northern neighbours re-joining their country.

25 years ago to the day since the people of both Northern Ireland and the Republic voted to accept the Good Friday Agreement, another potential referendum looms on the distant horizon. That Agreement, though primarily to end the violence of the Troubles, allows for a future border poll that would determine whether Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom, or re-joined the south. 

But crucially, few people realise that it’s not just up to Northern Ireland voters: consent is required on both sides of the border. And for voters in the Republic, it’s more complicated than you might think.  

Andrea Catherwood investigates what the new, highly-educated, liberal, European-focused Irish Republic thinks about the possibility of its northern neighbours, from whom they were parted more than 100 years ago, re-joining their country. 

Polls suggest a number of issues; symbols, violence, economics. Can Ireland afford it, and does it want to? Is it just too much trouble?

With contributions from the main Irish political parties, as well as economist David McWilliams and Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy, the assumption of a yes vote from the republic isn’t as straightforward as many assume. 

Presented by Andrea Catherwood
Produced by Sarah McGlinchey
Executive Editor Andy Martin
A BBC NI production for BBC Radio 4

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