Economic dividend of reunification would be most visible in Derry and Donegal
The economic dividend of reunification would be nowhere more visible than in Derry and Donegal which have been marginalised at the edge of two separate jurisdictions since partition.
That’s according to Finance Minister Simon Harris, who made the observation during a debate on the fiscal implications of a United Ireland in the Dáil prior to the summer recess.
"Perhaps nowhere would the economic dividend be more visible than in the north east and north west of the island. For too long, counties such as Donegal, Derry and Tyrone have found themselves at the edge of two separate jurisdictions rather than at the centre of one coherent economic region,” Deputy Harris observed.
Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig MacLochlainn spoke of ongoing cross-border cooperation aimed at promoting the north west as a single economic and societal unit.
"In recent days, First Minister Michelle O'Neill visited Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce. Present were the heads of Donegal County Council, Atlantic Technological University, Donegal ETB and a range of employers and businesses from across the county.
"It has been working together with Derry Chamber of Commerce to market one region: the north west city region. They have worked together as councils - Donegal, Derry and Strabane - and as universities - the University of Ulster and Northwest College.
"We can see, for example, in the City of Derry Airport, 40 per cent of the passengers who use that airport come from County Donegal. We are one region and one people and we have to break it down to achieve our economic potential,” said Deputy MacLochlainn.
The Buncrana-based TD spoke of the disastrous impact of partition for the Six Counties.
"Some 100 years ago, Belfast was larger than Dublin. Some 80 per cent of the island's industrial output was in the area around Belfast. It was an industrial powerhouse. If we compare that to Dublin today, Dublin is way beyond that in population and economic productivity. The economic impact of partition has been devastating, particularly on the North of Ireland,” he said.
This was echoed by Dublin Fingal West TD Louise O’Reilly who said: “Before partition, as we know, Belfast was a thriving industrial powerhouse.
"Partition put a lid on the potential of that city to grow and flourish. That potential needs to be unlocked even further for the benefit of our whole island. Likewise, cities like Derry must be allowed to reach their full potential, unhindered by the constraints of partition.”
Kildare North TD Réada Cronin spoke of the democratic deficit of British Chancellors making fiscal decisions affecting the lives of Irish citizens in the North.
"The people making decisions about investment and opportunity answer to voters in London, Manchester and Brighton, not Belfast, Derry or Newry. Why would Tory, Labour or Reform MPs prioritise communities to which they have no electoral responsibility? A united Ireland will change that and unlock an all-island economy that would work for everyone who lives on this island. Every Irish county would finally have a government whose only priority is Ireland,” she said.