Sarah Carey: Sinn Féin knows that a rich Republic and a poor Northern Ireland strengthens its case for unity

The ESRI published research this week showing that gaps between Northern Ireland and the Republic continue to widen. People in the Republic have higher rates of employment, are more productive, have higher disposable incomes and enjoy a better quality of life than those in Northern Ireland. For all the complaining about Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from the left and populist media commentators, the centrist parties of government have made Irish lives better by relentlessly focusing on getting people into education and employment.

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