Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)

Our motion is about asking everyone who believes in a united Ireland to step up to the plate, to become persuaders for unity and to demonstrate the responsible, mature and ambitious leadership required to achieve a future in a united Ireland. I listened to the Minister of State's speech. I have heard Minister after Minister and the Taoiseach dodging their responsibility to the Irish people, North and South. Fortunately, the Government cannot continue to hide, deflect and run away from the debate. The Irish people are moving ahead of it. As someone who has spent most of my life campaigning for a united Ireland, I have no doubt that we are on the final length of the journey towards reunification. There is a huge responsibility on the Government to do the political, economic and social ground work for a successful transition to a united Ireland. Not to do so would be utterly reckless and shameful.

I have participated in many elections. I have never witnessed the conversation on Irish unity that has been so central to the debate in this presidential election. It is happening in real time and we need to be proactive. The momentum is building. The direction and pace of travel points firmly towards unity. There is an onus on everybody, particularly those in political leadership, to plan for Ireland's future and to seize the enthusiasm and immense opportunity that reunification offers to all our people. Fianna Fáil - The Republican Party and Fine Gael (United Ireland) must use their platform as members of the Government to plan and prepare for unity today. That means establishing an all-Ireland citizens' assembly on a united Ireland, producing a plan towards a united Ireland and working to secure a date for unity referendums as provided for by the Good Friday Agreement. Talking about it is good but we need to see action and it is time for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to get together and work with everybody who wants to see a united Ireland. They need to actually work for it, not just talk about.

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