Ex-DUP leader suggests fixed generational polls on Irish unity

Toireasa Ui Bheath: I smell fear.

Jim Crane: In a unified Ireland, your benefits will almost double.

Stuart Kelly: Lundy.

Anthony Philip McKerr: No need to be fearful.

Ronald Coburn: Jim Crane, you are talking rubbish. Take into account the price of most items in the South and the extra tax on most items. Matthew Halpin: Ronald Coburn, where are you getting this idea?

Andy Carson: Toireasa Ui Bheatha, why fear?

Toireasa Ui Bheatha: Andy Carson, dole in UK £74 per week, dole in Republic €189 per week.

Nicholas Trelford: Ronald, they have different rates depending on how much National Insurance is paid. Long-term unemployed are on much the same as us, only the costs are a lot higher in South.

Sean Montague: Welfare is higher, but most people are working. The average wage in the South was 8k more than NI in 2014. It’s more now. Average RoI income is the fifth-highest in Europe.

Aoife O’Neill Cousins: Leave it for a few more years. Not the time yet. Let Brexit settle. In time, the Catholic vote will outweigh the unionist vote. Andy Carson: Aoife O’Neill Cousins, are you saying it will only be Catholics who vote for a united Ireland? And are you suggesting all Catholics would vote for one?

Matthew Halpin: She didn’t say that, but as Brexit approaches it’s a fair comment to say leave any referendum until the country is possibly more likely to vote for it.

Aoife O’Neill Cousins: Andy Carson, no I’m not suggesting that. I would expect some Catholics will stay with the UK.

Sean Montague: Detribalise it. Make the it about what’s best.

Ally Bally: All Catholics are not republicans, just as all Protestants are not unionists.

Mark Spence: They know what the demographic projections say. This is an attempt to stall the inevitable.