Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Historically, the EU has been a catalyst for much good in Ireland in terms of equality, workers’ rights, environmental standards and the rights of women. While there is much good in the EU, there is criticism that the EU has strayed from the original vision of a community of nations working in partnership and solidarity for the greater well-being of all citizens. With the EU moving towards growing militarisation and privatisation, we should continue to be critical.

Efforts by the Irish Government to erode neutrality are wrong, and Sinn Féin will remain absolutely opposed to any such moves. However, our neutrality should not be equated with international isolationism. lf Ireland is to continue to co-operate tangibly with its European and international partners on peacekeeping, it will be required to rebuild its Defence Forces, which have suffered from a lack of investment and respect by successive Governments.

The EU has repeatedly failed to act in any significant way against the continued human rights abuses in Palestine. Amnesty International and the UN have produced recent reports that clearly show Israel’s policies towards Palestinians as apartheid.

While this is the 50th anniversary of Ireland joining the EU, next Monday is the 75th anniversary of Nabka, the inhumane displacement and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in 1948. Since then, Palestinian lands have been eroded by illegal land-grabbing by Israel. The EU cannot simply sit idly by and must sanction Israel for its apartheid regime.

Last month marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which stands as a successful blueprint for peace making, a framework for resolving even the most difficult of conflicts. However, 25 years on, we are again faced with an impasse. We are challenged to recapture the spirit and determination of 1998 and to make progress happen. Sinn Féin is committed to seeing the assembly restored. We believe that a united Ireland would be good not only for Ireland but for Europe, standing as indisputable testimony that we can overcome any conflict. To do this, we need a citizens' assembly to allow for the airing of all views and all ideas on what a united Ireland will look like. We must talk about and plan for a united Ireland.

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