ARINS Podcast 16: Social Security in a Unified Ireland

In this month’s podcast, Mike Tomlinson and Seamus McGuinness explore Social Security provision models in a United Ireland with host Rory Montgomery. Tomlinson outlines the differences and similarities in tax systems, public expenditure, pension provision, poverty and welfare rates, child benefit, and long-term sickness and disability benefits in Ireland north and south. Going beyond comparison, the discussion examines the impact of the experience of conflict in Northern Ireland on the health of the population, on social welfare provision, and long-term sickness and disability benefits. Tomlinson deftly accounts for British Treasury decisions and anticipates the power of precedent in pension provision in a United Ireland.

The ARINS podcast goes live on the first Thursday of each month and episodes are available on SoundCloud, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

You can read Mike Tomlinson's paper, as it appears in Irish Studies in International Affairs, doi.org/10.1353/isia.2022.0011

About the series 

This podcast series provides evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. Host Rory Montgomery, MRIA, talks to authors of articles on topics such as cross border health co-operation; the need to regulate social media in referendums, education, cultural affairs and constitutional questions and the imperative for good data and the need to carry out impartial research. New episodes are released on the first Thursday of every month and can be found on our SoundCloud channel or any podcast platform.

About the project 

ARINS: Analysing and Researching Ireland North and South brings together experts to provide evidence-based research and analysis on the most significant questions of policy and public debate facing the island of Ireland, north and south. The project publishes, facilitates and disseminates research on the challenges and opportunities presented to the island in a post-Brexit context, with the intention of contributing to an informed public discourse. More information can be found at www.arinsproject.com(link is external).

ARINS is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.