Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I move:

That Dáil Éireann:

recognises that: — the reunification of Ireland is an objective of Bunreacht na hÉireann; and

— there is a growing national discussion around constitutional change with people from diverse backgrounds now exploring the possibility of Irish unity; notes that: — the Good Friday Agreement 1998 provides the democratic and peaceful means to achieve reunification through the provision of unity referendums; and

— the significant Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement report "Perspectives on Constitutional Change: Finance and Economics", recommends the establishment of Citizen Assemblies and other relevant forums, a designated Joint Oireachtas Committee and a Government Department to take responsibility for planning and preparing for constitutional change, received cross-party support; and calls on the Irish Government to plan and prepare for Irish unity, through the following actions: — establish an all-island representative Citizens' Assembly or Assemblies, to allow for informed debate, and a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Irish Unity to enable careful planning;

— produce and publish a plan towards Irish unity in conjunction with civic society and key stakeholders;

— engage with northern protestant and unionist opinion about the future of Ireland; and

— work to secure a date for the referendums on unity provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.

To promote his 1977 album, Heroes, the late, great David Bowie coined the phrase, "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming". This message should resonate powerfully as together we look to the future of our country and to our national journey from peace to unity. A united Ireland is an idea whose moment has come. The politics of Irish nationhood has come full circle. A century ago, partition was forced upon our people against our will, under the British threat of immediate and terrible war. The formation of two conservative states divided and separated the people of Ireland. This was an act of political vandalism which sowed the seeds of military occupation and conflict. Today, the Orange state built on prejudice and discrimination is no more. The Good Friday Agreement, signed almost 30 years ago, transformed the future. The perpetual unionist majority is gone. The most recent set of elections has cemented nationalism as the political perspective with the largest support. I say this not to sound the bell of triumphalism, far from it, but, rather, to underscore the immense change that is taking place. This is a change best represented by the fact that Michelle O'Neill, a republican woman from Tyrone, now leads the Executive as First Minister for all.

More and more people now see that partition has failed both communities and has failed Ireland. The momentum for the reunification of Ireland is building. Across Ireland, among people from all walks of life, the unity conversation is live and there is an onus on the Government to prepare for constitutional change and to plan for unity referendums. There are encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic changes, contributions from civic society, opinion polling and public commentary.

July's landmark research report by Professor John Doyle of Dublin City University supported by Ulster University's Economic Policy Centre deals a fatal blow to the economic arguments proffered against a united Ireland demonstrating that the costs associated with unity have tended to be exaggerated while the benefits of an all-Ireland economy have been largely ignored. The question is now no longer: "How can we afford to unite Ireland?" It is rather: "How can we afford not to?"

Throughout society, the unity discussion is widening and deepening led by civic organisations like Ireland's Future; grassroots GAA groups, including Gaels Le Chéile; across academia; and the commissions of political parties, including those of Sinn Féin and the SDLP. Voices supporting Irish unity come from across the political and societal spectrum, including former Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Leo Varadkar, and Archbishop Eamon Martin. Contributions have also been made recently by SDLP leader Claire Hanna emphasising the need to prepare for constitutional change and by the Alliance Party leader Naomi Long calling on the British Government to clarify criteria for the calling of a unity referendum.

By contrast, the poverty of ambition from the Irish Government is not alone wrong but utterly negligent. It is disappointing that the Taoiseach creates false obstacles to reunification. His consistent rejection of the calls for unity referenda is out of sync with the direction and pace of travel - his reasoning dismissive of the huge efforts made to progress reconciliation by communities over three decades.

I urge the Taoiseach to recognise that history is now unfolding. He must seize the promise of the Good Friday Agreement and grasp this moment to progress the reunification of our country. The Government should implement the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. That report received cross-party support recommending citizens' assemblies and other relevant forums, a designated joint Oireachtas committee and a Government Department for planning and preparing for Irish unity.

Irish unity has featured prominently in the presidential election. All candidates have expressed their hopes for reunification and outlined how they would propose to progress Irish unity during a term as Uachtarán na hÉireann. The President is a president for all of the people of Ireland and so this must be the very last presidential election in which Northern citizens are excluded and denied their right to a vote. The Irish Constitution asserts the will of the Irish nation to achieve a united Ireland and so it is crucial that we have a President who advances this ambition with vision and generosity. Is deis stairiúil í Éire aontaithe agus is é an smaoineamh is fearr do thodhchaí ár dtíre. Caithfidh an Rialtas stop a chur leis an mhaoil agus an obair a dhéanamh le pleanáil agus ullmhú do reifreann aontachta.

Our motion calls on Government to embrace this mounting spirit of ambition for a united Ireland in our time. The position of yes but not now, the attitude of this far but no further and the partitionism of successive Governments must be consigned to history. The Good Friday Agreement places the democratic future of Ireland in the hands of the people of Ireland. The question was prophetically posed by a former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds in a different time: "Who is afraid of peace?" The question that arises for us now is: "Who is afraid of unity?" Now is the moment to plan and prepare for reunification. There is not a minute to waste. Inch by inch, we come closer to a united Ireland. This generation hears tomorrow coming and steps forward to walk our length of the journey to full nationhood. Our dream is the dream of Wolfe Tone - to unite the whole people of Ireland, to achieve a 32-county republic and for Ireland to finally take its rightful place among the nations of the world. This is the future the Government must pursue with hope, with spirit, with determination and with pace.

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