Responding, Gavin Robinson said:
‘‘There is frequent speculation about a ‘united Ireland’ but what really matters is that over the past twenty-five years, the needle has barely moved in terms of electoral support for nationalist parties. The hard reality is that the majority of people want Northern Ireland to work and to remain an integral part of the United Kingdom - and that fact must be front and centre and cannot be wished away by attempts to create the impression that a so-called United Ireland would be better for the people of Northern Ireland.
Leaving aside the realpolitik, there are reasons to treat this newly published academic paper and some of its underpinning assumptions with a healthy dose of scepticism. It makes the assumption that a future UK Government would agree to cover the costs of public sector pensions and write off Northern Ireland’s share of UK public debt. This is an optimistic and speculative assumption in the extreme. In fact, other economists who opt not to minimise the costs of casting Northern Ireland adrift from the rest of United Kingdom have previously estimated that various factors could drive up the overall cost to some €400bn over two decades.
Northern Ireland is critically integrated into the UK economy. Our people and our communities make huge contribution to the social, economic and political life across our nation and, in turn, throughout the globe. We also have the protection by our world-class Armed Forces. Embarking on the dangerous journey of major constitutional change with its many known and unknown repercussions in these areas would not only be destabilising but regressive.
Of course, removing Northern Ireland would not just come at a huge cost economically, but also in terms of reconciliation. There is little evidence to suggest that unionist culture and traditions would be tolerated, let alone respected, in the ‘new Ireland’ Sinn Fein and the SDLP are keen to espouse.
The DUP will not be distracted by the politics of a divisive border poll. Whether it be delivering support for working families with childcare costs, investing in our communities or seeking to transform the health service, we are in the business of delivery and are committed to making Northern Ireland work.’’