Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)

There comes a time in the march of a nation when it has to take the next step. That time is now. Irish unity is not just a distant aspiration. Deputy McDonald was right - the conversation has begun already among people of all ages. Uniting Ireland was brought up with me today when I met fifth and sixth-year students from Naas Community College on their visit to the Oireachtas - an chéad ghlúin eile. It is not just the next generation, but on the doorsteps of the campaign, it is coming up again and again. It is a presidential campaign where Irish citizens in the North are, unfortunately, denied their right to cast their vote for their President. Irish unity is clearly on the agenda, yet we see no action from the Government. There is only silence, hesitation and a complete lack of leadership on what will be the defining question of our time. A united Ireland will not fall from the sky. We must build it with the same courage of our heroes past. We must build it through our democratic institutions while establishing an all-Ireland citizens' assembly to allow for careful planning. We must build it by engaging with Northern nationalists and unionists about the future of Ireland with the same courage of those who promoted peace on our island almost 30 years ago for the Good Friday Agreement. Irish unity is not a dream. It is the democratic right of the people of Ireland. We must stop waiting for the right time and make it the right time now because it is the right time now. We must rise to the moment and bring our people from the North, South, east and west home, not just as two peoples, but as one nation - Ireland, Thirty-two Counties, united and free.

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