Episode 6 Nolan Live

For the first time ever on this show, we'll be broadcasting

live, right across Ireland - teaming up with RTE's Prime Time

programme to debate the big talking points and hear views from packed

Hello there. Welcome to the show. An extended programme.

Later we'll be hearing what our audiences in Dublin and Belfast

have to say about some of the political and social issues

Are we poles apart or is there much common ground beyond the border?

To help us gauge if the politicians are in step with the

popular feelings on these issues, the BBC and RTE have commissioned

a cross-border survey asking about the issues that matter to you.

Some of those results are a real eye-opener.

We will use them to inform the discussion tonight. Should be

interesting. Lead is head over to Miriam O'Callaghan at RTE. -- let

us. We are now live on

BBC Northern Ireland and on RTE, with Miriam O'Callaghan

in the Prime Time studio in Dublin. It is a pleasure to be linking up in

this unique collaboration. We will hear from contributors north and

south of the border as well as revealing results of our specially

commissioned cross-border survey. Let us get stuck in.

Let's have a look at who we've got with us here in Belfast tonight.

The DUP's Arlene Foster, Northern Ireland's Finance Minister.

Claire Hanna from the SDLP and the Alliance Party's David Ford,

Sinn Fein will be joining the panel in Dublin.

And, of course, we've got a studio full of folk who have plenty to

We will start off with you. Conor? I was hoping to find out what

percentage of people north and south would be in favour or against a

united Ireland? It would be interesting. You are about to see

that and a lot more. Alex Kane, what do you think will be surprising?

What are you hoping to establish? For the past ten years there has

been censored Northern Ireland politicians in the Assembly are

distant from the electorate so it will be interesting to see,

particularly on the social and ethical issues, if they are out of

step and then it comes to same-sex marriage and so one, you will find a

comfortable majority in Northern Ireland are far more liberal than

the politicians believe. We are about to find out. Miriam? I will go

to the audience. Ian Morgan, what are you expecting? What is your

view? I feel very passionately about the reunification of the country, I

was brought up in the border area of North Monaghan and had a profound

affect on my youth and the community and we had effectively a Berlin Wall

from 1972 until the Good Friday Agreement with neighbours torn apart

and we have the British Army coming into the community and the trenches,

basically, that split the half and May one recollections were playing

in these trenches, they were like the moon but the old record I

realised this was petition in my own community. Thank you for that.

Hannah O'Sullivan, you order number of Fine Gael? My personal view is

that I feel that Northern Ireland should be an independent state and

not part of any other territorial. I feel that if Northern Ireland

continues to become part of the UK, there will be issues and if it

becomes part of a united Ireland, there will be issues. I lived in

London from the mid-19 70s until the 1990s and I sort of felt what it was

like to be an Irish person with an Irish accent, leading through the

Troubles in Northern Ireland... OK, thank you. I will introduce you to

the panel, Jimmy Dylan Hunt, Brandon Smith, from Fianna Fail. Pearson

Bertie from Sinn Fein. Pat Rabbitte from the Labour Party. Jimmy

Ferriter, professor of Irish history at UCD. And Susan McKay, author and

journalist. As we said, we had a survey to get an idea of how people

feel, it was conducted by behaviour and attitudes for RTE and BBC

Northern Ireland over done two weeks last month. You would remember this

was during the weeks of instability at Stormont. Just over 2000 days to

face interviews were conducted and 1029 in the Republic and an thousand

and 12 in Northern Ireland with a margin of error of 3%. Let us start

with the results. We asked how people felt Northern Ireland should

be governed in the short to medium term...

35% wanted the current situation to the name. Slightly more of people

said they would like to see Northern Ireland unified with the site. Some

people said, I don't know or they clicked other. One interesting point

is, more people in the Republic favour an arrangement that involves

Northern Ireland remaining in the UK.

The same question in Northern Ireland got a bigger proportion

in favour of remaining part of the UK when you add those two options.

Only 13% of those surveyed wanted Northern

Ireland to unify with the Republic in the short to medium term.

If we drill down into the Northern Ireland figures, the results paint

As you might expect, there's more support for a united

Ireland among people who describe themselves as Catholic or brought up

But what's interesting is that by adding those two first options -

devolution and direct rule - we see that just over half of

Catholics surveyed chose UK options in the short to medium term.

While almost half of protestants, 49%, want a devolved government, 30%

want Northern Ireland to be governed by direct rule from Westminster.

Among Protestants and people brought up in a Protestant background that

we surveyed, look how low the level of support for a United Ireland is.

We also ask people if they would like to see a united Ireland in

their own lifetime and there is a dramatic change.

That is much higher than the 36% in the short to medium-term. In

Northern Ireland... Again, much higher than the 13% in the short to

medium term. And look at the don't know... Both North and South. The

percentage undecided is significant. In terms of Northern Ireland,

there is no big surprise 57% of Catholics want a united

Ireland in their lifetime compared We thought we would ask all

attention is what they make of the findings. Pearse Doherty, I need to

put this to you, North or South, if a majority of people want to see a

united Ireland in the short to medium term, what was the campaign

all about? medium term, what was the campaign

all about? If you look at the figures, people must determine what

short-termist is an very few people would want a united Ireland in the

short-term because of that any discussion or any talk between all

the sections of society, it would create instability and problems.

When you look at the long-term figures, it is very positive, when

you exclude don't know, for the 1% in the North want a united Ireland

in their own lifetime as opposed to 59% that tonight and in the south, a

majority wants a united Ireland in their own lifetime. But you must

accept, are you not surprised that a majority of Catholics in the short

to medium-term in Northern Ireland don't want a united Ireland? No,

what I am not surprised about at this stage, that is not the

question, any short-term, do they want to see that without that

transition and plan in terms of what I united Ireland would look like?

What type of constitution or structures... They want to remain

part of the UK. The question you're asking is not that Sinn Fein is

presenting in terms of having a united Ireland joining the six

counties with the 26 counties, what we were involved in is a new Ireland

that is inclusive and that will happen with dialogue between all

individuals and that is why we can see the figures dramatically

changing... The figures in Northern Ireland, only a small majority, 57%,

of Catholics want a united Ireland in their lifetime so how could you

ever go about us winning the Protestant population that they

would want that? Since you only have a very small majority in the

Catholic opposition? I don't like talking in relation to religion and

when you look at the population of the North, when you exclude don't

know, for the 1% at this point in time want to see a united Ireland in

their lifetime and I compare that to the Scottish referendum and the

Scottish voted, for the 5% for independence, one year before the

debate, 13 opinion polls show that support was less than 30%, we want

debate, there is no debate at this point, what would happen if we got

rid of back-to-back services and the dynamics of the economy? Arlene

Foster is in the Nolan Live studio. What do you make of what Pearse

Doherty was saying? All the wrong questions were asked and we should

exclude don't know? For me, this is a very positive opinion poll, it

shows that the union is secure and people are comfortable within the

union in Northern Ireland and I think that we should remember this,

this has been taken at a time when devolution has been going through

some difficult months and can you imagine what the result would have

been evolution was working properly? I would not get too smug. While the

majority of Catholics might be happy in the UK, remember, this is just

one survey, they are not voting for you in the election? They are not

voting for unionist parties and maybe that is because you are

banging on about flags every day and night and identity and not about the

real-life issues that actually matter to people in this country?

That is why that survey should be worrying. It is very reassuring for

me. They will not vote for you. It is you that banks on a lot about

flags and emblems, if you want me to talk about economic holiday... I

have said this on a number of locations bus stop be graduated

response was a long time ago. If you want me to talk about economics and

education, I am happy to. Everyone is. It is a legitimate question, why

are Catholics reluctant, according to the survey, we know that

Catholics are happy to remain in the UK but we only reluctant to vote for

parties like yours? That is a challenge from a party and a

challenge for other parties. Traditionally, they have voted for

nationalists parties because they identify with nationalist parties in

recent perhaps Catholic issues and abortion and same-sex marriage and

we're going to talk about that later on. What are you doing wrong? How

can you reach out to those people? Were not doing much wrong when the

poll tells you that the majority of people living in Northern Ireland

are happy to be part of the UK. That is very good poll for unionists so

don't try to turn this around as a negative for unionism. More reaction

in Dublin. What hope do we have of united Ireland when people say that

unionists should go back to Britain? Firstly, it will be decided in

Northern Ireland and when you look back at the Good Friday Agreement,

it was clearly stated that Google only have a united Ireland if we

have a majority of people in Northern Ireland deciding on that so

when you look at the result of this survey, it does state clearly that

what the people in Northern Ireland want at this moment in time, both

nationalists and unionists, and that is devolution and that is when the

talks at the moment are so important and that is why it is so important

to implement fully the Good Friday Agreement and also why the storm and

high stocks are so important at this moment. Does this show that at the

end of the day, all the people who said the petition back when would

become the defect to reality and it would be impossible to enter this?

This survey indicates that is what we are looking at? It is not short

and medium-term. That is what we have two address. We have two

progress in ways we can share this island between us. There are signs

in Northern Ireland in the relationship between North and South

which is healthy at the moment. And it is proven to be economically

viable. There is tourism and the relationship is very good. I think

it gives us a clear message that this survey, I welcome it,

devolution is now what is wanted in Northern Ireland in this moment in

time and me -- we must work it. It is an indication a majority of

people north and south in the source -- short to medium term do not want

it and you seem to be aiming for an ideal that the people in the short

to medium term are out of touch. We have always had a founding value

where we continue to work in that respect and I think we need to make

the border irrelevant. We have the wherewithal with the workings of the

Good Friday Agreement, St Andrews and the Gwent agreements to have

greater economic Corporation in North and South. We have the

opportunity to grow the economy in the north and south. We have not

maximised the potential of the Good Friday Agreement. Politically, it is

relatively recently that we have been given the mechanism that should

the people in the north and South decide on a united Ireland, that

mechanism is there because we changed the constitution. In the

agreement that was overwhelmingly approved by the electorate north and

south in May, 1998, by more than 94% of the people that voted, more than

70% in the North. We have been given the mechanism that if the people

decide they want a united Ireland, that provision is in our

Constitution. Let's leave it there for the moment. That replaced the

1920 and 21 agreements. We are going to leave it there and go back to

Stephen Nolan. He is going to talk to his audience. Let's see what we

think already. Go ahead. So far, what has happened is all this survey

has highlighted is that it is time for a debate. It is on a united

Ireland. To square the circle, cover social issues, how are you going to

pay for it, run the country? I've heard Pearse Doherty here. Talking

about why that vote was not great is there has not really been a

discussion about it in the short and medium term. What is Sinn Fein doing

every day our peer? Why are they not talking about it every day of the

week? Of course they are. It is not reaching the people. All that survey

has pointed out is most people will air on the side of caution. Better

the devil you know than the devil you do not. If you put all your

cards on the table and show everybody, north and south, I am

sure there are people in Cork that wants to know how much it is going

to cost. It is pretty much the same way as the hard done south regarding

the bailout and bringing it back and labelled regrowing the economy. We

will look at taxes and how that influences and influenced people in

the survey on that question later. Stay with us for that. Yes, go

ahead. That is you, go ahead. I think we are hearing the same tired

question. What would have been interesting if we had a scenario, if

the UK leads the European Union, does that make a united Ireland

nearer or further away? That could be a fairly important reason for

people in Northern Ireland voting either for leaving the European

Union or actually voting against it. For me personally, if we leave the

European Union, it would affect my bus cars, train pass. We do not

know. These are big issues not even being thought about. We have got the

same tired questions. Do the people in the South think it would be

better for the UK to be in the European Union? So that they can

share the services that they already share in Europe? Man in the white

shirt. We should accept that the question is settled and get away

from these issues and move to green issues. What question is settled?

The survey made it very clear... In the UK for ever more. I you serious?

Sinn Fein cannot have a political position and argue for it? We can

argue for it but we should accept that the question is settled. Move

on for how long? Move on to the issue that matters. I am stating the

patiently obvious, a united Ireland is their political objective. You

are saying move on! Focus on lives. Look at the waiting lists, the gay

blood and, these people affect us as opposed to ideology. I want Northern

Ireland issues to be debated in stead of this session again and

again, it is silly. This is just a survey. It is not saying what every

single person in Ireland and Northern Ireland things. It is a

statistically robust survey. Miriam, you have some results. I will pick

up with my audience. That gentleman there are saying we need to move on,

what do you think, Annie? I think we need to work in the area that has

been sketched out by the Good Friday Agreement. Which is about increasing

cooperation and friendship between the people north and south. That is

a big enough task for our generation. A united Ireland is a

nice aspiration. Are the people of the Republic prepared to make

sacrifices in terms of taxation, finance, social harmony, to bring

900,000 Northern Unionists into a united state? I have my doubts.

Let's try without forcing anybody to a particular destination, try and

become better friends, north and south, on the basis of that we can

talk about constitutional future later. We are actually going to ask

questions about taxation. What have you heard so far? Do we need to move

on? Has this survey surprised you so far? I think this supreme irony of

the discussion that we are having in my opinion is that the culture of

the unionist population would be better served under a Dublin

government than would be served under... How do you say that? It is

down to population. The unionist population would be just shy of 20%

of the population of this island. They currently make up 1% of the UK.

Unionist MPs in Westminster do not have a voice and are not listened

to. If they were in the door, they would be properly in a coalition

government... I think a lot would disagree with you. OK, we are going

to give you more salt. We asked another question, just to try and

test how strong support for a united Ireland in the long-term is. First,

a reminder. In the Republic, 66% said they favoured a united Ireland

in their lifetime. If it went paying less tax, support increased to 73%.

If there were to be no change in the level of tax, 63% would be in

favour. But if a united Ireland meant people in the Republic had to

pay more tax, supporting the survey. Magically to 31%.

30% favoured a united Ireland in their lifetime. But if it meant

paying less tax, support from respondents in Northern Ireland is

flat in the margin of error. If they were to be no change in the level of

tax, 22% would be in favour. Look at this. If a united Ireland meant

people in Northern Ireland had to pay more tax, support again falls

dramatically, 11%. Pearse Doherty, even for people in

their own lifetime wanting a united Ireland, they are not willing to pay

money for that. I believe in a united Ireland in my heart and my

head. I think it will make a stronger economy. It is not what I

asked. That issue does not arise in my view. What we will have is the

synergy of 6.4 million people on the island. We will get rid of two

currencies and exchange rates and employment laws and have a stronger

economy has a result. You will not need more tax. Two have services,

two transport systems, you would have more efficiencies... We can

argue all night about whether that will happen. People have a fear and

would see they might have to pay more money if there was to be a

united Ireland. This survey indicates they would not pick that

option. People do not like to pay more tax. That is understandable.

That is the point I am making. We need to have a real debate. That is

why Sinn Fein had called for a Green paper on Irish unity. What do people

that share the aspirations want to do to stop that discussion? How

would we plan? What type of structure and rights would we have

so everybody had a inclusive society? What constitution,

parliament? These questions need to be asked and they were addressed in

Scotland and Catalonia. You see a surge of people that move in the

direction of independence, or unity, in my view in the Irish Republic. I

think you are going to come in now, Stephen. You are asking questions

and I am looking for answers. Here is the big sell, Christmas has come

early, I will give you one minute, sell it to me. Why would a united

island that everybody watching across this island, sell it in terms

of the numbing benefits, go! We would get rid of two currencies,

exchange rates. How much would we say? You build the economy and if

you look at the last European country that reunified in terms of

Germany, the GDP of East and West increased when it was reunified. You

will get rid of that. How much would you say? Are their numbers behind

this? No doubt you have thought it through, sell this denied. It would

benefit us economic lead by how much? There are no numbers? What do

you mean? ! The British Exchequer would release the numbers in

terms... Also in terms of the income that was raised, been others are not

accurate... Let her speak to you. It is ?9.8 billion, we receive in one

year. He is asking us to leave an economy of 60 million people and go

into an economy of 6.4 million and that will somehow make it a sense

for the people of Northern Ireland. I hope you are not spinning me and

that this is accurate! Encase people did not get that, you are we get 9.8

billion over and above. That is the difference between the taxes... That

the figures from her Majesty 's Treasury. They are available. I was

going to say 10 billion. I will not fight for 9.8. Does Sinn Fein accept

these figures? Let me tell her what the figures are, 17.7 billion euros,

the Treasury claims is spent on the north and the British Treasury in

their own report in 2012 claims the income from the North is 14.1

Stirling. What is missing in that... Can I ask you a question, Jimmy? Is

it your position, we have not spoken before, good evening, Jimmy, is it

the position of the Irish government for a united Ireland at this moment

in time in the current economic climate? That is hypothetical,

obviously. It is a big question. Do not give me hypothetical! Can the

Irish government afford a united Ireland at this moment in time # yes

or no? No, really. CROWD CHEERS... There is nothing

hypothetical about it? You cannot afford a united Ireland. How short

are you? Couple of quid, couple of million, couple of Ilion? When you

look at something like tourism has an example of how a body can foster

creativity, you will see it is very successful... How far away from

affordability are we? Not how much tourism is costing. Are we light

years away? Is it high in the sky, or close? There are two aspects.

Affordability and with the economy going, we could arrive but it would

be a long journey but we could arrive there. Then there is

consent. Without majority consent in Northern Ireland, it will not

happen. The feedback that I am getting and it is obvious, it will

not be forthcoming from the Nationalists, or Unionists for a

long time. Can we really not afford a united Ireland? Is that it? Yes,

we can afford it if people are prepared to pay an additional two US

sees, universal social charge brings in about 4 billion. Two of them

would manage for one year to pay the cheque from her Majesty's

government. But you do not have a normal functioning economy in

Northern Ireland. We have a public sector employment economy. You do

not have a wealth creating sector that is adequate to make a

contribution retaining services at the level to which people in

Northern Ireland have become accustomed.

People in the Republic of gone three years of an and perhaps it is based

on time and at another time, people might be willing to pay more tax and

maybe pay an additional amount for the dream of a united Ireland? I

think the Irish people, some of us and it is reflected in poetry and

literature, they are dreamers, but generally, people are concerned

about the tax they must pay and even people who are not so young, when

asked about, in my lifetime, they will tend to say with their heart,

yes, I would like to see a united Ireland. When it comes down to the

dignity of paying for this, that is a separate issue. The aspiration to

unity is enshrined in the Belfast agreement and this is not a debate

that we need, it is cooperation, when YouTube killed on that

agreement and deal with issues like agriculture and energy and health.

With Synergy... I will stay talking to you for the moment, I am handing

back to Stephen. He will stick with his panel and audience. I will be

back so do not go away. I am enjoying this! We will be back with

Miriam later on to hear from the Dublin audience about the topical

issues. Right... Mark Devenport is here. The Irish government has said

on live television that they cannot afford a united Ireland? Whenever I

say or the panel, this programme will be remembered as the no, really

answer, he did not take refuge in being hypothetical, in days gone by,

people would not say that, he has just done that. What is the

implication? It spells out what a lot of people already know, the

reason those figures for the short to medium term, people aspiring to

that, it is so much less than longer term aspiration, people are

concerned about any change to the status quo, in terms of political

damage and security and economic league and that is concerning on

both sides of the border. What else do you pick up from that poll? We

can look at some of these figures. The attitudes towards a united

Ireland. We have a different attitudes. Catholics and

Protestants, devolution, picking up as the most popular option on both

sides. Quite strong support for direct rule within the Protestant

community but we must remember that the timing of this was whenever

devolution was at a very low point with rolling resignations so that

perhaps explains that sense of disillusionment. And on the Catholic

side, if you are together those figures, it is slightly surprising

that you have majority support for UK options. Doug Beattie, your party

might be responsible for that direct rule statistic? You're messing

around, you walked out? Destabilising the Executive and look

at that? I would completely disagree. We made a very so sink

decision based on a murder and a dysfunctional Executive and we

walked out and that was it. The Executive carried on, the ministry

post was still there, the Executive would have carried on and the Ulster

unionist Party... You're not worried about that direct rule finding? 30%,

look at that, in the Protestant background said direct rule? That

does not concern you? Of course it does, our party once devolution, we

set up those institutions, we nearly spent ourselves to get devolution so

of course that concerns us but we have said this again and again, this

was taken in the middle of an in out post. We did not jump back in,

somebody else could have filled that post. David Ford, any reactions? It

is not surprising that the wrist wrong support for the religion north

and south, Catholic and Protestant, because in 1998 what we got in the

Good Friday Agreement and Arlene Foster might want to refine this

with St Andrews but what we have got is recognition of the three sets of

relationships, partnership in Northern Ireland, north, south and

east, west. That is the only copper mines which will ever get broad

acceptance in the future and it is quite clear that is accepted by

representatives in Dublin and also by the clear majority of the people.

Claire Hanna, your party once a united Ireland. Is this survey a

kick in the teeth? Our party does believe that a united Ireland would

be greater than the sum of its parts but people had every right to ask

that improve their lives. Look at how people are thinking. I would

agree, there is much more that needs to be done to show how services can

work. But ultimately, and our primary project, is to make Northern

Ireland work as nationalists should not be afraid of that. Do you know

what? It is close to December, I am fat enough to be Santa Claus. Here

is a Christmas present. You have a prominent Orangemen, Mervyn Gibson,

cell a united Ireland to him. He is entitled to ask. Tell him. Sell it!

Services, if you have a hospital in all the gelding or Daisy Lowe, that

catchment area is wider, but we are right to design services as a new

project and you are right to ask... You are selling. Fewer hospitals?

Nationalism is not chest beating and music, it is about a new project.

This is a big cell? I will ask again... Selby top three benefits to

a united Ireland because the people surveyed here are not getting that.

What is your first eight point? This is a small island, it does not make

sense to have two sets of everything. People will get improved

services. What are they? What I am selling right now... If I walk into

a car showroom and people say, look at this car, it is beautiful, look

at those seats, leather, lovely, it costs this. Give me that they'd take

it seal. What is the number one thing that will make people think,

my life has been transformed. Nationalists are not afraid to say

that at the moment we are selling making Northern Ireland work. You

cannot do it? I have never said that tomorrow we will vote this through,

we must reconcile people here and people on the side have the right to

ask, they have just had an economic near death experience and Jimmy was

right to talk about that. We were looking over the statistics on a

united Ireland in the lifetime and it is a very big sell to sell this

immediately and it will obviously be a longer term project but you would

have to say that on these figures, 30% supporting united Ireland, the

Secretary of State will not be calling for the border poll any time

soon. Trying to stabilise things seems to be the only real goal in

time. That's a sense

of political attitudes in Northern Are those fault lines repeated

when we look at how people here Well, 44% of people in

our NI survey said they're British. But there's a significant group who

think of themselves as Northern Irish - 22%. Look at this

difference in how people view Those outside Belfast are more than

twice as likely to refer to themselves as

Northern Irish than in the city, 25% Interesting. Well, the Northern or

as identity has come up in recent times, the new kid on the block, as

it were. It is hard to know exactly what people mean by that, it is

ambiguous, different things can mean different things to different people

and there has been some research suggesting it is maybe not such a

very strong identity, it perhaps changes over time, you might get

Catholics identifying as Northern Ireland and things happen when the

Union flag protests, maybe less so. One thing that seems to be the case

as a people who identify as Northern Ireland tend to know people from the

other side and they mix socially and perhaps this is where we see the

rest of Northern Ireland being stronger than Belfast, perhaps from

being closer to the border? Is that significant? What is significant is

that 55 people living in the North but not identify as British. They

identify as Irish, Northern Irish or other. And that does mirror that

figure looking back to... That is not necessarily true. How do you

think of yourself first? First and foremost as British? If you look at

the previous statistics, the number of people who supported devolution

plus the number supporting a united Ireland, 65% of the Catholic

population, if the 1% of the Protestant population and what that

means is that the vast majority of people living in the North do not

support being governed by Westminster. Mervyn was Mike people

would describe themselves as Irish and they have written the passports

so there is ambiguity about that question but I can see why a

significant number in Belfast classify themselves as British

because people are still living along interface walls and they

identify with the Roman particular community. Arlene Foster, are you

first and foremost British or Northern Irish? If I was answering

the question in the census, I would say British but I would consider

myself as Northern Irish. And British. Ever consider yourself

Irish? Not really, Northern Irish. Who would you cheer for in the

rugby? Ireland, we have Northern Ireland players! Sometimes. Don't be

afraid to say that. I am not afraid, I don't think anybody would say that

Arlene Foster is afraid of saying that. Your Irish when watching

rugby? We have some fabulous players from Ulster. And you know that. What

about you? British or Northern Irish? I have always been Irish. And

I am also British. I have no issues with that. And I am very proud of my

identity. OK. She is far better looking than me, we need to head

back to marry and RTE. -- million. -- Miriam. She is waiting for us.

Right, as you can see we are broadcasting

together live across Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

This time round we'll be concentrating on some of the key

What do people North and South think about same-sex

And do we have much in common with those living just across the border?

We thought we would test what people in Dublin and Belfast really know

about each other, do you recognise any of these faces? Enda Kenny, the

Taoiseach. Looks like George Bush. That is the Irish President. People

think he is from Titanic. The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. He is the

minister, the headman. Peter Robinson. He is the partner with

Martin McGuinness? Peter Robinson. The First Minister. I know who he

is. Carl Frampton. Carl Frampton. I do not know. Who is he? Oscar

Pistorius? Rugby player? I don't know. Peter Taylor. -- Katie Taylor.

Boxer. Katie Taylor. I don't know. Haven't got a clue. Nope. Miriam.

Miriam O'Callaghan. I don't have a baldy. I know her face. Presenter? I

do not know. Stephen Nolan! Everybody knows him! Others are we

boy. Stephen Nolan. He is well fed, like myself. Is he a chef. John

Daly? Stephen Nolan, Nolan Live? That man was fatter than me, I will

tell you right now. I don't agree with what that

man said about me at all. Anyway it's only a snapshot

of opinion. How similar are we when it comes to

the big social issues north Those of you watching in the south

will know that same-sex marriage has been a huge issue culminating

in an historic vote, becoming the first country in the world to adopt

same-sex marriage by popular vote. Northern Ireland, by contrast,

is the only part of the United Kingdom where same-sex

marriage isn't available. But does that reflect what

people think North and South? To get a sense of that,

we asked how comfortable people would be if a close family member

married someone of the same gender. A large majority, 67%,

of people in the Republic said they'd be either fairly comfortable

or very comfortable with it and that's broadly in line with

the referendum earlier this year. In our survey,

one in five people in the Republic say they'd still be either fairly or

very uncomfortable with it. So that's what's happening

in the Republic. What's Northern

Ireland going to say? 64% percent are either fairly or

very comfortable with the idea of having a same-sex marriage

in the family. Actually,

that's similar to the Republic. We've ignored the people who said

don't know, but that still leaves nearly a quarter of people

in Northern Ireland who are fairly We also asked how people would feel

if a close family member married somebody with a different religious

background. In the south, the survey showed a very high level of comfort

with marriage between people of a different skin colour, mirrored in

Northern Ireland. It is similar with attitudes towards marriage, between

religious backgrounds in the family. 79% were broadly comfortable with it

in the south and Northern Ireland appeared a little bit more accepting

of afferent fate 's, with 84%. Northern Ireland seemed slightly

more comfortable with these issues. -- different faith. You carried out

this survey, Martha. Do you think there might be a reason for that? We

do. We think the majority of people in the North with a faith, are

either Catholic or Protestant. In the south, 85% declare themselves

catholic in the last census. The remaining 15%, there is a vast

swathe of different religions and