Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has welcomed the ‘Economic Overview of Ireland and Northern Ireland’ report launched by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) today.

She said that the research highlights the importance of an all-island approach to public health, adding that reunification would present an opportunity to redesign our healthcare system for citizens across all 32 counties.

Teachta Conway-Walsh said:

“This type of comparative research is absolutely crucial as we deepen the planning and preparation for constitutional change. 

“Demonstrated throughout this comprehensive document are the similarities and differences between the economies of both jurisdictions and, importantly, how these economic differences are impacting on citizens’ lives in the north and the south in terms of healthcare, education and standards of living.

“The report clearly outlines the fact that the NHS of old has been eroded, hollowed out by funding cuts imposed by successive British governments.  The worrying trends in infant mortality, life expectancy and hospital waiting lists in the north are testament to that.

“What this points to for me is the opportunity that reunification would present to redesign our healthcare system for citizens across all 32 counties.

“There are already many examples of cross border healthcare initiatives which are working very well.  The Cancer Care centre in Derry, the Co-operation and Working Together (CAWT) project in the border area and the All-Island Cancer Research Group are just three examples which show that cross border working has positive and progressive outcomes for patients.

“We know that the population of the entire island would present the critical mass necessary for the delivery of highly specialised treatments and the attraction of the best consultants and surgeons to our island.

“An all-island approach to health care planning, including recruitment of staff and delivery of care would be a game changer for the provision of health to our citizens.

“In the wake of this report, I once again call on the Irish government to become active leaders in discussions on unity and to resource and plan for it. 

“The government must establish a citizens assembly on Irish unity, which would discuss all island healthcare, as we embrace the most important opportunity of our generation.”