Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Good Friday Agreement rightly and deservedly stands apart, is internationally respected and is a milestone in terms of what is possible when people mired in and plagued by conflict not only aspire to peace, but are committed to moving beyond conflict. Oftentimes, and perhaps most often, speaking of such agreements or processes is within the context of constitutional issues, ideology or national aspirations. These are by their very nature crucial and important matters, deserving of respect in terms of the genuine aspiration from where they come.

We should never get away from the crucial component, namely, the impact on ordinary people, families and communities. In that context, it is immediately apparent why the Good Friday Agreement is referenced and respected as it is. That is because it has delivered. We in Ireland lived in a society and community where political conflict was to the fore but are now commonly referred to as a post-conflict society. That is something of which all parties should be proud, cherish and have a responsibility to nurture.

We should nurture it because the Good Friday Agreement has not been implemented in full, with legacy issues a crucial area at present. It is incumbent on us all to ensure that, as we look to the future, we honestly and properly address and have regard to the past. Victims, their families, all political parties, the Irish Government and the human rights commission have highlighted major flaws with legislation pertaining to this matter that is being progressed by the British Government. The legacy Bill represents a clear breach of British Government commitments in two international treaties, namely, the Stormont House and New Decade, New Approach agreements. Instead of fostering and building upon our peace and seeking to meet the needs of all our people, the Bill stands clearly as representing a blatant disregard for victims. The Stormont House Agreement, agreed by the Irish and British Governments as well as the political parties, provides an agreed framework and mechanisms to give victims access to the truth and justice they rightly deserve in a human rights-compliant manner. The truth is that agents of the British state were central to the murder of hundreds of nationalists and republicans throughout the decades of the conflict. They utterly controlled the loyalist paramilitaries. They armed them, handed them intelligence and then covered up their deeds again and again. The British Government must accept responsibility for the actions of its agents as part of the truth and reconciliation path we are all on.

It is incumbent on the Government to prepare responsibly for the border poll that is referenced in the Good Friday Agreement. Those of us who advocate for Irish reunification have a responsibility to make our case and to win hearts and minds in this democracy. We in Sinn Féin, along with many others across this island, are proposing the establishment of a citizens' assembly to do just that. While the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement focuses on the past, the lessons we have to learn and the positives that were achieved, we now have a responsibility to look to the future and start to imagine what a future Ireland will look like. We need to start to talk to each other and discuss our responsibilities rather than wishing it away or that time will be delayed and stalled. We have that responsibility. It is now the responsibility of the Tánaiste, Deputy Martin, and the Minister, Deputy Coveney, who are present, as well as that of the Taoiseach, to establish a citizens' assembly. They say they advocate for Irish reunification and wish to see it. It is time to prepare for the border poll that will be coming down the line, not to wish it away.

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