Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the Taoiseach’s intention to bring a memorandum to Government on Ireland’s constitutional future, saying it must drive urgent and inclusive preparations for a united Ireland.
Mary Lou McDonald said:
“I welcome the Taoiseach’s commitment to bring a memorandum to Government before Christmas proposing a new body to examine Ireland’s constitutional future, including Irish unity.
“This is an important and welcome step. Preparations for Irish unity must now advance with urgency, backed by concrete action, a clear timetable and the resources necessary to undertake this work.
“Sinn Féin believes that a united Ireland is the best future for all our people. Ending partition and bringing our country together offers the biggest opportunity to build a stronger economy, deliver better public services and create a fairer, reconciled society across the whole island.
“Our ambition is a new, united Ireland founded on equality, democracy, respect and reconciliation, where everyone belongs and every community has a stake in our shared future.
“Preparing for that future is an urgent responsibility. The Irish Government must lead the work of developing a credible, practical proposition for unity that can secure support, north and south.
“That means answering people’s questions about healthcare, education, jobs, pensions, public services and their rights. It means setting out how unity can improve people’s lives and how we can manage the transition together.
“This process must be inclusive from the outset. We want people from a unionist background to help shape a new Ireland. Their British identity and traditions must be respected and protected, and their concerns and aspirations must be heard and taken seriously.
“Everyone must have a meaningful opportunity to contribute, including those who support the union and those who have yet to make up their minds. Participation must be open to all, without any requirement to support constitutional change.
“We are confident in the case for Irish unity and determined to win support for it through respectful engagement, persuasion and a compelling vision of the future we can build together.
“We have consistently called for the Irish Government to lead preparations. We will engage positively and constructively with this initiative and will be seeking engagement with the Government at the earliest opportunity.
“This is a moment for leadership and ambition. We must seize the opportunity to build a new and united Ireland and get on with the work of preparing for it.”