Outgoing Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said a united Ireland “should never be about money” as he compared any future constitutional change to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Mr Varadkar was speaking after the publication of a study suggesting Irish unification could cost the government €20 billion annually for 20 years with a 25% tax rise to cover the costs.
In his last interview as Taoiseach with RTÉ News, he said that “three or four percent GDP is a small price to pay” for a united Ireland.
Mr. Varadkar said, “If you believe in the unification of your country, three or 4% of GDP is a small price to pay.”
The outgoing Taoiseach acknowledged the report’s cost projections but emphasised that unification should not be solely about financial considerations.
“An economic case can be made that would cost less and that we could grow our economy, and economic growth is the best way to generate wealth, but it shouldn’t be about that,” he said.
Mr. Varadkar formally resigned last night, following his surprise announcement last month that he would step down.
Simon Harris will replace him when the Easter recess ends today.
During his final engagement as Taoiseach, Mr. Varadkar expressed hope that negative perceptions of him among some unionists would be reassessed in the future.
“I would hope perhaps in a few years’ time, with the fullness of time, when things look a bit different, with hindsight, that might be reassessed,” he said.
Mr. Varadkar defended his actions during the Brexit process, stating, “You know, certainly Brexit, the decision of the UK to leave the European Union, was very disruptive.”
“And I spent a huge amount of my time as Taoiseach trying to make sure that it didn’t create a hard border between north and south and didn’t adversely affect Ireland’s position in the European Union.”