Europe

Economy

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Europe

CLAIM: Ireland has the fastest growing economy in the Eurozone.

Rating

ACCURATE

According to the most recent annual figures, Ireland has the highest annual rate of GDP growth (both as an absolute figure and if adjusted for

Europe

CLAIM: UK passports are produced by non-UK companies.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

The new (blue) UK passport is produced by Thales Group (headquartered in France). However, passports will be personalised with the holder’s details in the UK.

Europe

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News

Interview with Giovanni ZAGNI (Director, Pagella Politica) by Allan LEONARD (24 November 2020) “I haven’t seen some of my colleagues in six months,” remarked Giovanni

Economy

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Europe

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Peace

CLAIM: The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement does not forbid the provision of barrier controls between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement does not exclude governments’ border measures, but aims for ‘normal security arrangements’. The UK Withdrawal Agreement seeks to minimise physical border

Economy

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Europe

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement does not forbid the provision of barrier controls between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Rating

ACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement does not exclude governments’ border measures, but aims for ‘normal security arrangements’. The UK Withdrawal Agreement seeks to minimise physical border

Europe

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Law

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Peace

CLAIM: More than 700,000 people born in Northern Ireland have an Irish passport.

Rating

ACCURATE

831,779 Irish passport applications (2010-19) represents 44.7% of the Northern Ireland-born population living in the UK at the time of the 2011 Censuses. On the

Elections

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Europe

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Peace

CLAIM: There is 51% support for a united Ireland.

Rating

ACCURATE

This claim is accurate. Although the Sinn Fein manifesto didn’t declare the exclusion of “don’t knows”, this revises a 45/46/9 split to a rounded 49/51

Europe

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Health

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Law

CLAIM: Northern Ireland has the highest rate of femicide in Western Europe.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

Northern Ireland has the second highest rate (0.53) of female intentional homicide victims by intimate partner, per 100,000 inhabitants, in Western Europe, as defined by

Europe

CLAIM: The current negotiated deal for the UK leaving the EU outlines no forms, checks, or barriers of any kind for goods leaving Northern Ireland to Great Britain.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

While no customs export declaration forms would be required (as Northern Ireland will remain in a UK-wide customs area), exit summary declarations will be required

Economy

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Europe

CLAIM: 40% of Unionists are happy about a potential trade border in the Irish Sea.

Rating

INACCURATE

This claim is inaccurate. 15% of unionists in a LucidTalk poll in August 2019 said there should be a “Northern Ireland specific backstop.” 81% of

Europe

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Law

Multiple claims have been made in a viral graphic about what actions have been taken by the EU and the UK since negotiations for the UK to leave the EU began on 29 March 2017. We assess each of the 12 claims.

Rating

MIXTURE

A graphic about what actions have been made by the European Union and the UK, respectively, since negotiations for the UK to leave the EU

Economy

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Europe

CLAIM: A business transaction happens every six seconds across the border of Northern Ireland and Ireland.

Rating

INACCURATE WITH CONSIDERATION

There was a cross-border commercial vehicle journey every 6.74 seconds in 2016. But there are no known data on cross-border business transactions. On 25 June