Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am glad we are having this debate in the Dáil. The uniting of all people of this island in a shared state is, beyond all else, the founding value of the Fianna Fáil Party. In politics, we more often than not work in here-and-now situations and the long-term vision we as parliamentarians have for our country and its people is not always expressed. In this debate, I wish to state on the record of Dáil Éireann that my bedrock belief has always been and will always be that there should be a united Ireland.

On the wall of my office in Leinster House, I have a picture of my great-great-grandfather, John Hargrove, a prominent Land League leader and nationalist from Cratloe, County Clare. On the other wall, I have a prison letter written by Tom Barry while interned in Arbour Hill. Achieving a united Ireland, which I am confident will happen in our lifetime, will be somewhat different to what these two men and many generations of Irish nationalists and republicans envisage. A united Ireland can now only be achieved through peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. While I very much want there to be a border poll at some stage, I fear if we move with too much haste we may not get the result that we so desperately yearn for. The Scottish independence referendum of 2014 failed miserably and we cannot risk failure in what would likely be a once-in-a-lifetime ballot.

The partition of our island has been a failure and must be ended. I was lambasted in some quarters last year when I said that the fact Northern Ireland exists is a source of hurt and pain for many people. I stand over that assertion and belief. It is certainly how the nationalist community sees things. The Good Friday Agreement should not be seen as the finish line, but rather a stepping stone for unity.

The shared island unit has done some fantastic work to build positive relations beyond the Border. It makes good sense to explore what a united Ireland could look like, vis-à-vis intertwined public services like healthcare, housing provision and judicial systems. This work must continue. I will conclude with a quote from Pádraig Pearse, whose basalt bust looks over this Chamber each and every day:

You cannot extinguish the Irish passion for freedom. If our deed has not been sufficient to win freedom, then our children will win it by a better deed.

The deeds of our children will be peaceful and diplomatic, but they will be unifying.

See this speech in context