Bertie’s moment of truth – but will he strike a blow for independence?

THERE is an old joke told about three guys sitting in a pub in Galway in the 1950s. Over several pints they debated Ireland’s economic ills, trying to explain why their country was still suffering emigration and poverty more than three decades after independence.

In the classic style of pub economists, they discussed several countries, trying to figure out why they had prospered while Ireland was left in economic depression. Suddenly, one of the drinkers said: "I've got it, Japan and Germany have shown us the answer," he said "What Ireland needs to do is to declare war on the USA and then America will rebuild our economy afterwards." They ordered another round to celebrate their breakthrough.

However, settling into the next pint one of them looked worried, lifted his eyes and said to his two friends: "Hold on what happens if Ireland wins the war?"