In recent times two dimensions of the debate on Ireland’s future were on display: one on the streets of Belfast and the other on social media.
On the streets of Belfast Sinn Féin erected over 50 bi-lingual posters with various themes linked to its overall call for a planned ‘New Ireland: New Future’. The poster campaign is part of Sinn Féin’s unity poll referenda campaign.
Online and in the skilful and seasoned hands of the journalist Martina Devlin, a member of ‘Ireland’s Future’, Colin Harvey, Professor of Human Rights Law in the School of Law at Queen’s University, Belfast, also a member of the group, and life-long friend of Ireland, the powerful and leading US Congressman Richie Neal were put through their paces.
The interviews followed the recent launch by ‘Ireland’s Future’ of its document, ‘The Conversation on Ireland’s Future: A Principled Framework for Change’, described by Ms Devlin as a ‘concise text which packs a punch’, and which ‘aims to answer some of the key questions around the issue of referendums on Irish unity.’
The journalist set the scene for the interviews with an ancient Chinese proverb: ‘Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I will understand’.
And for both interviewees the involvement of people was a central part of their long, detailed and comprehensive interviews.
And for both it was the values of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA) - based on consent and the people of Ireland’s expressed will at the ballot box – that was the bedrock of democratic politics now and in the future.
These values promote and protect human rights, equality, parity of esteem and mutual respect between all views and traditions that share Ireland.
The document makes it clear that its aim is ‘a united Ireland that is genuinely new, globally ambitious, and successful.’
It is structured around three principles: normalise the constitutional conversation; plan and prepare for constitutional change and the Good Friday Agreement provides the framework.
The document carries a briefing note on unity referendums prepared by the Constitutional Conversations Group, which included the barrister Mark Bassett and Colin Harvey.
It's detailed, well considered and covers fourteen areas. It argues for referendums north and south on the same day similar to the 1998 May 22nd referendums which supported the GFA.
It also states a simple majority in each jurisdiction is required; an inclusive vote should be extended to 16-year-olds similar to Scotland’s independence referendum; a successful vote will automatically lead to all of Ireland returning to the EU as a single state; British citizenship will continue as will the institutions of the GFA, including the executive and assembly and the array of human rights legislation.
Colin Harvey characteristically brought his consummate knowledge of human rights to bear during his interview.
He described Brexit as ‘Boris and the Brexiteers' international adventure into the wilderness’.
He said civic engagement was essential.
An all-Ireland citizens assembly should be established where people could express their concerns on the issues that people were raising with him: unionist identity and culture, the economy, health care, housing, employment and education.
He said the Irish government should make changes ‘in the here and now’ to welcome the north into new constitutional arrangements: ‘Let’s have more unionist voices in the south and more southern voices in the north’.
This is an ‘exciting and optimistic time’ he said.
Similar views were expressed by the influential Congressman Richie Neal, chairperson of the Friends of Ireland, as he looked forward to the election of his ‘friend’, Joe Biden, as US President.
Neal has been steeped in Irish-American politics for decades.
He is ‘hopeful’ of a united Ireland in his lifetime.
It will come about according to the GFA; based on a democratic vote and an energetic effort to convince the unionist population that a ‘unified nation would in many ways best represent their fortunes.’
With Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, they made it clear to Johnson there would be no trade deal with the US and Britain if the GFA was put in peril.
Last week’s agreement by the EU and the British government to avoid a land border in Ireland, when the British withdrew those offensive Internal Market Bill clauses, is further evidence of the power the US has in Irish affairs.
A power which will be employed to bring about a new, agreed and independent Ireland.
