Why this site exists
Calls for a border poll and a united Ireland are growing louder. Yet the people of Northern Ireland are rarely told what a united Ireland would actually mean for them: for their health care, their pension, their taxes, their job, their children's schooling, or their identity.
The Ireland Question exists to ask those questions plainly, to set out what is known, and to show where the answers are missing. We believe that before anyone is asked to vote on the future of Northern Ireland, they deserve the full picture.
What we believe
We believe Northern Ireland is stronger as part of the United Kingdom. We say so openly. But we also believe a case is only as strong as its evidence, so we aim to win the argument with facts, not slogans.
We believe in the principle of consent. Under the Good Friday Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998, Northern Ireland's constitutional future is decided by the people of Northern Ireland. That is the right way to settle it, and we respect it whichever way people vote.
How we work
- Facts first. Every claim we make links to its source, usually legislation, official statistics or a government document, so you can check it yourself.
- Facts kept separate from opinion. On every question page, what is established ("What we know") is kept apart from what is disputed ("What is still unclear") and from our own view ("Our view").
- Fair to the other side. We set out the arguments for a united Ireland as their supporters make them, before we examine them.
- Honest about what we don't know. If a question has no clear answer yet, we say so. That is often the point.
- Corrections in the open. If we get something wrong, we fix it and update the "Last checked" date. Tell us and we will look at it promptly.
What we are not
- We are not linked to any political party, and we do not speak for any party.
- We are not against Ireland or Irish people. The Republic of Ireland is a valued neighbour and friend, and many people in Northern Ireland are proud to be Irish, British, or both.
- We are not interested in sectarian division. The future of Northern Ireland matters to everyone who lives here, whatever their background.
The questions we ask
Our questions cover the practical things that would change: who would pay for health care, what would happen to pensions and benefits, which currency we would use, who would cover the gap between public spending and the tax raised here, and what would happen to Stormont, policing and schools.
Each question is marked as answered, partly answered or no clear answer, and we update them as new proposals and evidence appear.
Have your say
If there is a question you think we should look at, use the Ask a question button at the top of any page. We read every suggestion, and the best ones become new pages on the site.
Who we are
The Ireland Question is run by [YOUR NAME OR "a small group of volunteers"] in Northern Ireland. We are not paid by any party, campaign or government, and we do not carry advertising.
Contact us
Email us at . We welcome corrections, suggestions and fair challenge.
See our privacy and cookies page for how we handle your information.