A Letter from Ireland
a Chara,
This week I have been in New York and Washington for meetings and events. Labour Day weekend has just passed, and I saw my first pumpkin spice latte on offer. I guess that is the end of summer.
In Ireland, the Assembly in the North has reconvened, and this week Sinn Féin held its annual “Think-in” in advance of the return of the Dáil next week. Here’s a preview of what’s in store as both the Dáil and the Assembly resume their legislative work.
In Dublin, the Sinn Féin President made clear that the immediate focus will be the upcoming budget due in the next five weeks. For Sinn Féin, the focus will be on pushing for a package that supports working families amid rising living costs. The party has developed measures to reduce taxes for low earners, provide rebates on electricity costs, and lower fuel costs by cutting fuel tax over an extended period.
These are well-thought-out, costed proposals that safeguard those most in need. Rising fuel and product costs are driven in part by the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, and also price gouging by large multinationals. This is obvious when you see how quickly prices rise and how slowly they fall.
These costs are mostly driven by external factors, but the current Irish government has responded minimally, while people continue to bear the cost of its inaction.
Mary Lou also raised planning and preparing for Irish Unity as the defining issue of our time. We can work on today’s issues and plan for the future. The continued partition of our impacts our economy, infrastructure, reconciliation, and public services. A cost that we all pay.
In the North, the Assembly has reconvened with the next round of Assembly elections on the horizon in May 2027. This Assembly has been fractious as the DUP continues to veto issues, including those detrimental to their own electorate, such as the Good Jobs Bill proposed by the Sinn Féin Minister for the Economy.
The DUP is the leading party of pro-British Unionists and shares a mandatory place in a power-sharing government, with mutual vetoes. Having differing parties in government with opposing worldviews will always be challenging. The DUP’s actions undermine confidence in political institutions, and they seem determined to test the electorate’s patience.
Sinn Féin Vice President and First Minister, Michelle O’Neill at the opening of this term, acknowledged the limitations of the Assembly but remains determined to turn up for work on behalf of all despite the provocations. To walk away simply collapses the Assembly and replaces it with British rule. For Irish republicans, the Assembly is not the endgame.
We have a view beyond partition and the Assembly and it’s limited power and a budget set by London. We have a view on a new and United Ireland. A place where the budget is set by all the people who share the island and not in London. A government not bound by a faction’s vetoes and one that operates in the interest of all.
Until then, we will continue to operate in the Dáil and Assembly for the benefit of all our people, working for those in need today while we build for a United Ireland.
Have a great weekend,
