Bertie Ahern on renewed United Ireland calls
Summary
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern joins Drivetime to discuss Donald Trump's call for a united Ireland, arguing that while unity is inevitable, it requires calm, substantive work rather than political posturing. Ahern defends the Good Friday Agreement's vague border poll criteria, asserting that the current system is sufficient and that pulling in MLAs would be a mistake. He highlights the need to consolidate decades of academic and political research into a single comprehensive document to facilitate debate on practical issues like healthcare and policing integration.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Trump's call for United Ireland
Global reaction to recent political comments
The slow pace of the peace process
Call for a comprehensive scoping document
Reflections on progress since 1998
Debate on border poll criteria and clarity
Is a united Ireland inevitable?
Practical challenges: NHS, PSNI, and courts
Fine Gael's blueprint and consolidating documents
Brian Cowen's biography and resignation
Micheál Martin's leadership and closing remarks
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