Wednesday, December 21, 2005
The border is failing
It appears the border is becoming less and less of a problem.It emerged yesterday that up to 25,000 people in Ireland's north will be issued with Irish passports this year.
Over 40 post offices across the border will process the service.
Irish pensioners across the North already get free passports after Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern announced a waiver scheme in August for all citizens over 65.
Mr Ahern said yesterday: "This year 25,000 people in Northern Ireland will avail of our new Automated Passport System through a network of 40 post offices."
The 27.7 million euro (pounds 17m) system fully meets all international specifications and is widely regarded as one of the most secure in the world today."
Up to 650,000 Irish passports in total will be issued this year, resulting in 33 million euro (pounds 20m) in revenue.
The border is becoming more and more irrelevant. This is a key step on the way to the reunification of Ireland.
Clearly schemes like this one benefit the people of the north and the south.
I'm heartened by this development. The border was designed to try and segregate Irish from Irish.
It has failed miserably.
# posted by United Irelander @ 7:09 PM 
© 2008 United Irelander.
