Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I think of a united Ireland, I think of my grandfather, James Feely, who 100 years ago was released from Mountjoy on the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty. He was commander of the north Roscommon brigade of the old IRA and fought for a united Ireland.

When we consider a united Ireland now, it is very different 100 years on. Ireland joined the European Community, along with the UK, 50 years ago. It was a seismic change to the way our two countries interacted. On average, 26 meetings a day are held between Irish officials and politicians in Europe. That is what brought on the goodwill and partnership that brought about the Anglo-Irish Agreement between Garret FitzGerald and Margaret Thatcher. That agreement gave us an advisory role in regard to Northern Ireland. I also acknowledge the Downing Street Declaration between John Major and Albert Reynolds and the Good Friday Agreement, which was signed by Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair. I thank John Hume, David Trimble, Bill Clinton and many more. I always believed the United States have been the guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, the involvement of the EU in the context of our membership of it, in what has probably been the most successful peace agreement, has been incredible.

People talk about an agreed Ireland and a united Ireland. It is not a one-way street. If we are to have an agreed Ireland, we in the Republic have to give up things as well. People ask me what unionism is. Unionism favours a political union with Great Britain and professes loyalty to the British crown and constitution. It is not palatable but we are talking about flags, anthems and maybe working closely with the Commonwealth of Nations. It is not a one-way street. An agreed Ireland will not happen unless we are prepared to give up some aspects of our own Republic.

I remember the bad times. Two things happened in my constituency that I will always remember. One was the shooting of Private Patrick Kelly and Garda Gary Sheehan in Ballinamore in 1983. These are things you remember. There is another aspect. In 1989, Harold Keyes, a former member of the RUC, was shot dead in Ballintra, south Donegal, in front of his girlfriend. These are things we try to forget but must remember because, like volunteers and other people, they had families, friends and the whole lot. Thankfully, the brave people who stood up to sign the Good Friday Agreement have stopped those awful killings and awful tragedies. We look forward to a much better and more inclusive Ireland, one that is very different from that my grandfather and others fought for. I welcome that.

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