Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I echo the words of so many on the welcome return of power-sharing in the North. As a student of history and as someone who has sat in this Chamber for the past four years, the words "historic" and "monumental" are too often overused. The scenes of Michelle O'Neill as Northern Ireland's First Minister and Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy First Minister were, however, truly historic and monumental. I was watching it live on TV and one could not help but note other issues of this significant event as it happened. An old friend of mine Andrew Muir, became the first openly gay Minister in the North. It was incredible. Matthew O'Toole also took his place as the leader of the Opposition. That is exactly what a healthy democracy should look like in the debating and exchanging of opinions. When some of the voices of the past that had tried to bring us back to a darker past stood up to give their views they were noticeable because of how much they stood out from where everybody else seemed to be. That was powerful.

Throughout our history, helping to build and maintain respectful and peaceful relationships between all of the peoples and communities of the island of Ireland has been among the greatest challenges we have faced. With the MLAs back on the assembly benches the success of the reconvened assembly and the executive will be judged, as are all of us in this House, by the people we represent.

The challenges the new Ministers and Government face are many, as already discussed, and include spiralling waiting lists, public sector pay issues and, of course, the stability of the institutions themselves. We should never be nonchalant about this. We all, throughout the island of Ireland, have an important role to play in ensuring power-sharing continues.

It is equally important that we continue to respect the spirit and intent of the Good Friday Agreement. Reconciliation must remain central to our future, regardless of political uncertainties. We carry the past with us and we cannot help but feel the weight of it when we meet anybody on this island who had to go through the horrors of the Troubles. We must all be part of building a shared future. It is time to move on from talk of the limitations of a devolved parliament to the possibilities of an evolved, all-island Republic. I have heard some in this Chamber talk about a decade of persuasion as we look towards the inevitability of what is coming. In fact, more than that is needed. We need several years or a decade of reimagining what a future in which there is a united Ireland looks like. We must reimagine our future, dream our future and build that shared future on this island. The turgid work of statecraft should start now if we are live, work and thrive together.

The question of what that future will look like is one of the exciting conversations we would love to be able to have. Referendums on constitutional change will take place some weeks from now. What should the Constitution look like as a whole if we are thinking about a united Ireland? Why can we not start those conversations now? Why can we not imagine a blank green field in which we sow the seeds of an all-island Republic? What would our health system look like? What does an education system that is not influenced by any church look like? These are exciting conversations that we can and should be fostering right now.

Preparing for a united Ireland involves navigating complex historical, political and social landscapes. A key consideration is the necessity of fostering inclusive dialogue among diverse communities, acknowledging their distinct identities and fostering a sense of unity, while also acknowledging that within those distinct identities, there is a massive degree of similarity. Addressing historical grievances and promoting reconciliation is crucial to building a shared future. The British Government's legacy Bill threatens that. We are all on the same page on this point across the Chamber. I echo the Tánaiste's comments on how we should seek to challenge the legislation. When it comes to addressing historical grievances, I have met people like Stephen Travers and Eugene Reavey who experienced incredible horrors during the Troubles but who get up every morning and dedicate themselves to difficult conversations where the objective is peace.

Economic integration plays a pivotal role in achieving that peace. The shared island initiative has had its achievements and will continue to achieve things. It is hugely welcome. Strategically aligning policies and infrastructure investments can bridge economic disparities between the Republic and Northern Ireland. We need to see those investments as part of our future, including building railways and motorways and investing in Ulster University in Derry. All of these actions are really important in ensuring smooth transitions. Strengthening institutions that uphold democratic principles and human rights will be vital to achieving a cohesive and inclusive society. Education must become a cornerstone by which we promote understanding and appreciation of all identities on this island. Encouraging cross-community educational initiatives can foster unity from an early age.

Communication platforms must be leveraged to engage citizens in discussions about the transition and ensure their voices shape the evolving narrative. Some of the more interesting conversations I have had during my time in politics have been as part of the initiatives that took place at the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation. I met members of loyalist working-class communities there and had conversations about their experience, including their feeling of not being able to relate to somebody from the South, and conversations about where we might meet in the middle. Those sorts of conversations are a small drop in the water but they are really powerful and it is absolutely essential they continue.

Collaboration with international partners and organisations is essential for garnering support and expertise in the process of state-building. The process should prioritise peaceful negotiation and diplomatic channels. Such efforts are emblematic of the peace we need in the world at this time. We must seek common ground to build a stable foundation for a united Ireland. Balancing the aspirations of all stakeholders and embracing diversity will be critical for a successful and harmonious reunification, which has to be our goal. It can never be overstated that we all have a role to play in this. That work should start now. There is no reason to step back from it.

See this speech in context