Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We turn then to Irish unity. It seems like everyone is preparing for the reunification of our country except the Government. This budget again allocates no money for preparation for reunification. We have seen the success of citizens' assemblies in addressing the big challenges and opportunities this State is faced with. Setting up a citizens' assembly to look at all aspects of Irish unity is a no-brainer. To present a budget without provision for a citizens' assembly on reunification demonstrates how far this Government is removed from people and communities who want an opportunity to actively prepare for it. While this Government remains in power, it is up to the rest of us - in academia, civil society, sports organisations, the business community, the wider public and the diaspora - to do so. If we are to push forward with preparing for the challenges and opportunities associated with reunification, we need to allocate dedicated research funding to empower people at all levels to continue this work. We need to begin imagining what a new Ireland can look like and what an island without Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael can look like.

See this speech in context