IF there were a united Ireland tomorrow, it would probably have one of the most incompetent governments in Irish history.

An odd prediction, you say, but it is based on assuming that an all-Ireland government would contain one or more of the four main parties currently in power in Dublin and Belfast: Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the DUP.

The recent history of these parties in office is poor in many aspects of government.

This suggests that modern Irish politics, north and south, is remarkably devoid of talent and, in some cases, even basic human ability.

Chris Donnelly: Never mind education, let’s have a row about Union flag bags

Patrick Murphy: United Ireland? United in incompetence, maybe

Whichever combination of the existing government parties might govern a united Ireland, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the new administration would be an unprecedented amalgam of administrative uselessness.

So where, you ask, is the evidence for such sweeping statements?

Let’s begin by looking at both governments’ record in major construction projects.

In Belfast, the new children’s hospital was to cost £250 million with a completion date of 2020. It is now estimated to cost £671m and might be ready in 2030 – 10 years late.........

© The Irish News