Polls apart on the big issues

Opinion polls are expensive, so it was a surprise to see RTE’s Claire Byrne Live wasting a chunk of licence fee payers’ money last Monday asking people if they’d rather have a united Ireland or a hard border.

That’s like being offered a choice between a bowl of custard and a cup of cold sick. Even if you can’t stand custard, you’re hardly going to pick the alternative.

What was even more amazing was hearing Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan on the same programme announce, during a discussion on a possible border poll, that he wasn’t a big fan of referendums.

Charlie does remember he’s a member of a government which has called more of them than Mrs Doyle has made pots of tea, right? Just checking. Nor is Fine Gael done. Coming soon to a voting booth near you are popular votes on emigrants’ right, the voting age, divorce, a woman’s place in the home... Still, look on the bright side. At least RTE isn’t setting the questions.