Support across our island and beyond, for Irish unity is today stronger than ever before.
That was powerfully demonstrated at the recent Sinn Féin ard fheis, when the Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile became the first significant global leader to publicly endorse a united Ireland.
His intervention reflects the extent to which international opinion is actively engaged with the growing conversation about Ireland’s constitutional future.
This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the new British government.
Electoral shifts, demographic change, and political realignments all point to the need for the British government to begin acting differently about our democratic right to self-determination.
The persistent refusal by successive British governments to set criteria, and a date, for a unity referendum is no longer sustainable.
This British government should change that position.
By contrast, an emerging consensus exists among the majority of political parties across Ireland on the need to plan for Irish unity – including the three coalition government parties.
This found expression in July’s landmark publication of the Oireachtas all-party Joint Committee on Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement report ‘Perspectives on Constitutional Change’.
It explicitly asserts the need for the Irish government to immediately begin planning and preparing for reunification.
The report advocates extensive public engagement, drawing from the experience of citizens’ assemblies and other similar forums.
Ordinary people must be involved in shaping the future of Ireland. A citizens’ assembly on unity would facilitate their participation.
A few weeks previously in Belfast the civic organisation Ireland’s Future hosted a major conference bringing together eleven Irish political parties, to discuss the need to plan for a new future.
Sinn Féin’s ‘Commission on the Future of Ireland’ has organised significant events engaging all sectors and communities in Irish society. Other political parties have also taken positive initiatives.
The unity debate has been mainstreamed in Irish society. Workers and families want decisions about their lives and futures to be taken on this island.
Significantly greater numbers of new voices from diverse protestant and unionist backgrounds are participating.
In another welcome contribution, former taoiseach Leo Varadkar repeated the need for unity to become a political objective for Irish governments.
The next government in Dublin should make planning for unity a concrete objective within its programme for government.
A Sinn Féin-led government will prioritise unity and appoint a Minister for Reunification within the Department of An Taoiseach.
The Good Friday Agreement provides the mechanism to achieve Irish reunification.
There is an overwhelming desire in Ireland and internationally, seeking full implementation of the 1998 Agreement.
This British government must embrace these realities and work with us to bring about a new constitutional settlement for all our people.
Partition has run out of road. It has failed workers, families, public services, and local businesses.
The conversation on constitutional change is happening both at home and abroad.
It’s no longer about if, but rather how, and when. The focus of both governments must turn jointly to full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and set a unity referendum date within this decade.
International partners such as South Africa, are committed to supporting Ireland embark upon the next phase of the peace process and a pathway to reunification and reconciliation.
The time has never been more appropriate to begin planning for a new, united and more prosperous Ireland.
