The return of a hard border between the Republic and Northern Ireland is “inevitable” and will disrupt trade and harm the economy, a leading economist has warned ahead of his lecture in Cork this week.

People cannot rely on politicians to act in their interests, but apathy is not the the solution, says a European diplomat.

Philippe Legrain, the economic advisor to former European Commission president José Manuel Barroso, believes Ireland should threaten to veto issues important to European leaders in order to receive concessions on its bank debt.

It is almost an article of faith that a long, ultra-patient game is the best way to convince the EU and the ECB to reduce or, God forbid, cancel the €64bn private debt imposed on taxpayers to cover failed banking investments and to steady what was a staggering euro.