"Under the terms of the Treaty of Rome, the Republic's claim to Northern Ireland is illegal and a referendum, irrespective of the outcome, would allow that anomaly to be resolved." As Paddy P points out, there's no such claim now, just an aspiration. And an expectation, but that's not in the costutution.

But "Ireland just might become a bearable place to live". Well, Ireland is a long way short of perfect, since most of the people living there are human beings - but even so, of the countries on this planet, it's probably one of most bearable.