The 32 Core Subjects in Any Serious Debate About a United Ireland

A balanced, structured framework across nationalist and unionist concerns — and how solvable each issue actually is.

Debate around a potential United Ireland is usually loud on emotion and quiet on structure. To have a genuinely useful conversation, each side needs a clear map of what the actual issues are — not rumours, not party spin, but the real subject areas that matter to people.

Below is a balanced, 32-topic framework:

• 16 concerns usually raised from a nationalist perspective
• 16 concerns usually raised from a unionist/loyalist/protestant perspective
• Each given a “solvability score” (0–100) based on how close we realistically are to a workable solution
• And judged on whether 70% compromise or 100% resolution is realistically possible

This is not propaganda for any side. It’s a structured tool to help people debate seriously — and to focus on problems that can actually be solved.

Part 1: The Nationalist-Leaning Issues (16)

1. Identity, Flag, Anthem & Symbols

How should the new state present itself?
Solvability: 40/100 – technically solvable but emotionally fraught.
70% achievable: Yes. 100%: No.

2. Equality of Irish Cultural Expression

Guarantees for Irish language and identity.
Solvability: 60/100 – frameworks already exist.
70%: Yes. 100%: Maybe.

3. New All-Ireland Political Institutions

Parliament shape, Ulster protections, regional vetoes.
Solvability: 35/100 – needs major design work.
70%: Possible. 100%: No.

4. Economic Benefits of Unity

FDI, EU scale, productivity.
Solvability: 55/100 – modelling exists but contested.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

5. Aligning Public Services (health, welfare, education)

NHS vs ROI mixed system.
Solvability: 30/100.
70%: Uncertain. 100%: No.

6. Cultural & Language Rights

Irish, Ulster-Scots, bilingual spaces.
Solvability: 65/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

7. Transitional Justice & Legacy

Truth-telling, victims’ frameworks.
Solvability: 25/100 – extremely difficult.
70%: Very challenging. 100%: Impossible.

8. EU Membership for the North

Automatic via unity.
Solvability: 70/100 – the clearest legal pathway.
70%: Yes. 100%: Almost.

9. Customs & Border Removal

One island economy, no internal border.
Solvability: 60/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

10. Regional Autonomy in a New Ireland

Real power for Ulster and border regions.
Solvability: 55/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

11. Taxation & Funding (incl. option to pay Belfast or Dublin)

Dual tax authority or fiscal federalism.
Solvability: 40/100 – radical but possible in part.
70%: Maybe (partial). 100%: No.

12. Housing, Land & Development Balance

Avoiding Dublin centralisation.
Solvability: 45/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

13. Policing & Justice Integration

PSNI, Gardaí, courts alignment.
Solvability: 35/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

14. Environment, Energy, Climate

All-island grid and renewable strategy.
Solvability: 65/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: Maybe.

15. Healthcare Entitlements

NHS-style free care vs ROI mixed system.
Solvability: 30/100.
70%: Uncertain. 100%: No.

16. Education & Curriculum Alignment

History, exams, civic content.
Solvability: 40/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

Part 2: The Unionist / Loyalist / Protestant-Leaning Issues (16)

17. Protection of British Identity & Citizenship

Continuing to be fully British in law and culture.
Solvability: 55/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

18. Role of the Monarchy

Symbolic connection to the Crown.
Solvability: 30/100.
70%: Perhaps symbolically. 100%: No.

19. Orange Culture & Parading Rights

Legal protections for parades and tradition.
Solvability: 50/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

20. Constitutional Safeguards for Protestants

Avoiding feeling locked in as a permanent minority.
Solvability: 40/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

21. Protection of Protestant Churches & Schools

Faith schooling, property rights, funding.
Solvability: 70/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: Nearly.

22. Tax Shock & Subvention Loss Fears

Will people be worse off financially?
Solvability: 35/100.
70%: Maybe with solid modelling. 100%: No.

23. Policing Neutrality & Trust

Fear of bias in enforcement.
Solvability: 40/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

24. British Cultural Markers

Flags, BBC, football teams, heritage.
Solvability: 60/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

25. Housing & Demographic Security

Fear of being edged out or deprioritised.
Solvability: 30/100.
70%: Possibly with oversight. 100%: No.

26. Education – Fear of “Green-washing”

Curriculum imbalances.
Solvability: 40/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

27. Policing of Loyalist Protest

Rights to protest without discrimination.
Solvability: 45/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

28. Shared Spaces & Council Control

Who decides on murals, flags, cultural displays?
Solvability: 50/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

29. Loyalist Paramilitary Transition

Disbandment, reintegration, ending control over estates.
Solvability: 20/100 – one of the toughest issues.
70%: Very difficult. 100%: Impossible.

30. Jobs Linked to UK State Structures

Civil service, MoD sites, agencies.
Solvability: 45/100.
70%: Maybe. 100%: No.

31. Pensions, Benefits & UK Contributions

Keeping entitlements earned under the UK system.
Solvability: 55/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: Nearly.

32. The Role of London After Unity

Guarantor, funding partner, cultural protector.
Solvability: 50/100.
70%: Yes. 100%: No.

What the Solvability Scores Actually Tell Us

Across all 32 topics, three clusters appear clearly:

1. The “Technical but Solvable” Group (scores 55–70)

These issues need planning, money and legislation — but are not fundamentally ideological.

Examples:

• EU membership
• Energy/environment policy
• Equality guarantees
• BBC/sport/culture access
• Social security coordination
• Faith school protections

Conclusion:
These are the easy wins in any transition plan.

2. The “Hard Politics & Trust Gap” Group (scores 35–55)

These involve money, constitutional guarantees and public confidence.

Examples:

• Taxation models (incl. Dublin vs Belfast choice)
• Policing neutrality
• Regional autonomy
• Curriculum frameworks
• Job protections
• Council control of shared spaces
• Subvention certainty

Conclusion:
They are solvable, but require sequencing, time, and credibility.

3. The “Identity & Memory” Group (scores 20–40)

Highly emotional, historically loaded issues where perfect solutions don’t exist.

Examples:

• Monarchy
• Permanent minority anxiety
• Paramilitary transition
• Legacy justice
• NHS/ROI health system merge
• Demography fears
• Symbols/flag/anthem choices

Conclusion:
There is no 100% solution. A 70% settlement is likely the best that a functioning, stable united Ireland could aim for.

Where Does the “Choose Belfast or Dublin for Your Taxes” Idea Fit?

Your suggestion — letting individuals or companies choose to pay their taxes to either Belfast or Dublin — fits within the fiscal federalism section.

Realistic path:

Phase 1:

Regional fiscal autonomy for a Belfast executive inside a united Ireland.

Phase 2:

Assigned taxes (e.g. income tax bands, corporate tax options, business rates).

Phase 3 (partial choice):

Specific sectors or self-employed individuals choose their tax authority.

Phase 4 (unlikely full model):

Universal free “choose your treasury” mechanism.

Conclusion:
A partial version is realistic. A full version is probably unworkable long-term.

Final Thoughts: The Debate Needs Structure, Not Slogans

This 32-topic map shows one thing very clearly:

The difficult issues aren’t technical — they’re emotional, historical and about identity.

The opportunity is enormous:

• A stable constitutional settlement
• A modernised all-island economy
• Clear rights and guarantees for both identities
• And potentially a unique shared-sovereignty fiscal model

But the challenge is equally huge:

• Trauma
• Distrust
• Symbols
• Security
• Demography
• The zero-sum thinking of the old politics

A serious debate must be honest about both.