Sir, – The points made by Fintan O’Toole about the 1972 study of Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland are interesting in many ways, but not as incoherent as he implies (“Southern hostility to Northerners was the hate that dared not speak its name”, Opinion & Analysis, Weekend, August 27th).
The finding that 64 per cent wanted to see a united Ireland and that 79 per cent would welcome a Northerner into their families are not exactly irreconcilable positions to hold.
The more interesting matter perhaps is how such surveys are designed and whether we can ever expect consistency in their results.
One can probably assume that, if asked “Would you like to have your cake and eat it?”, most people would reply in the affirmative.
Indeed, if there is any doubt, a cynic might argue that the Brexit vote confirmed this fact.
The messy realpolitik is not usually addressed in surveys of popular opinion. Regarding Northern Ireland a more useful poll might ask first, whether respondents would like to see a united Ireland, and then of those who would, how much more tax they’d be willing to pay to live there. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN O’BRIEN,
Kinsale,
Co Cork.