Professor John Doyle launches his new book 'Before the Vote: Planning for a United Ireland' at Holywell Trust, 7th October at 7.00pm

The aftermath of Brexit threatened a hard border on the island of Ireland, aggravated social and political tensions and undermined key aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. A vote on Irish unity now seems more likely than at any other point since the foundation of the Irish state. Before the Vote responds to this new political reality, focusing on what needs to be understood by the public, before a referendum takes place. Before the Vote arrives against the backdrop of recent comments by British Prime Minister Andy Burnham saying that discussion of a unity referendum is 'off the table', while former PM Gordon Brown called a United Ireland 'inevitable', and former Taoiseach Leo Varadakar said that a detailed plan is now needed. A recent Dáil debate on the possible costs of unity saw Fine Gael leader Simon Harris and opposition parties quote research by the author while speaking TDs were in broad consensus that robust planning in needed.

This book does not argue for any preferred outcome, but it does provide new research and analysis of the key issues which have feature in the debate to date.

Drawing on new research, John Doyle of Dublin City University analyses the economic conditions and public policy in the two parts of the island of Ireland; comparing gaps in living standards, education, welfare systems, gender equality and health. The findings often contradict common myths about the differences north and south, and the economic relationship between Northern Ireland and the British State. It includes the first detailed comparison of the two health systems, which has been a significant issue in the debate to date.

The book looks to the future, exploring how a referendum might be called and managed. It discusses why opinion polls give different results, and how pre-referendum debates should be structured to avoid the confusion and misinformation associated with the Brexit campaigns. Finally, it crucially asks what the political structures of a new state would look like, the legal and political processes of integration in a new united Ireland.

Before the Vote is digitally open access and available in print for €20/£20 during the book tour, from DCU Press, or select book shops.

Professor John Doyle is Vice President for Research in Dublin City University, with 30 years’ experience researching peace processes, focused on Northern Ireland, and recently on the consequences of Brexit. He is commissioning editor for ARINS, a Royal Irish Academy and University of Notre Dame collaboration on the future of Ireland.

DCU Press is Ireland’s first fully open-access academic publishing house, non-profit and peer-reviewed. It supports the mission of Dublin City University to advance its research impact and reflects its commitment to Open Research.

Description supplied by the event organiser.