A Letter from Ireland
a Chara,
Last weekend, Simon Harris, the leader of Fine Gael, announced that the party would develop and publish a blueprint for a unified Ireland at its Ard Fheis (Annual Conference) in November.
Fine Gael is now joining the majority of parties across Ireland, Sinn Féin, the SDLP (the party of John Hume), the Irish Labour Party, the Social Democrats, and others, in advocating and preparing for Irish Unity. However, this announcement is significant as Simon Harris is also the Tánaiste (deputy Prime Minister) in the Irish Government. In a deal with their government partners, Fianna Fáil, he is due to become Taoiseach (Prime Minister) at the beginning of 2028.
Micheal Martin, the current Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil, has set his face against planning, preparing, or even advocating for Irish Unity, with the constant refrain that “now is not the time.”
In a rebuff to that position, Simon Harris said, “…the necessary groundwork we need to do to develop unity of purpose, unity of vision, and unity of our island. That work begins now.”
Fianna Fáil has always claimed to be “The Republican Party”, yet has failed to advance the cause of Unity in its 100 years of existence, including a majority of that time in Government. It was the founders of Fine Gael who were the first to support the partition of Ireland, and they are now planning for its end.
The driver of this change is the reality that partition continues to limit economic and social development in the North and the South. Brexit demonstrated that decisions made in London had a direct and negative impact on Dublin. The cause of Irish Unity is also very popular in the Southern State, with a demand to begin preparations. Fine Gael is aligning with popular opinion, responding to the demand for action on Unity and also chasing a lead over their main election challenger, Fianna Fáil.
In leaked WhatsApp messages, reported in the Irish Examiner, Fianna Fáil elected representatives were seething in their commentary against their partners in Government and by the lack of action by their own party to progress Irish Unity.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the announcement by Simon Harris, but added that party promises were not enough; it would require government action. It is the Irish Government that will negotiate with the British on the wording and timing of Irish Unity referendums.
It will be the Irish Government that will manage the transitions to a unified state, the economic model, governance structures, constitutional guarantees, the shape of public services, and the timing of the transfer of sovereignty after successful referendums. The preparatory work should begin today.
This week, Mary Lou McDonald introduced a Bill into the Dáil (Irish Parliament) that will compel the Irish Government to consult with the people, establish a Citizens’ Assembly on Unity, and develop a Government Green Paper setting out its ideas, vision and proposals for health, education, public services, economy, and ultimately, governance of a new unified State within the European Union.
This Bill is planned to be debated in early July. If Fine Gael is true to its word, and if Fianna Fáil is true to its rhetoric, both will support the passage of the Bill into legislation.
Over a hundred years after Ireland was divided, it is not too late to do the right thing. This week’s developments by Simon Harris and Fine Gael are to be welcomed, but if they are to be of value, they must be marked by their actions in Government.
Have a great weekend,
