Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I join in the welcome to the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to the House. I also welcome this interesting debate. Reference was made by some to the 1922 Constitution and the fact that aspects of it were incorporated into the 1937 Constitution, but the significant difference is that the former was to some extent underpinned and recognised by an enactment in the British Parliament whereas the latter was very much part of the self-determination ethos of that entire era.

There was a fascinating period from 1916 to 1938, which may even date back to 1912 with the increased activity of the volunteers and also the activities of labour rights and the various strikes and labour leaders at that time. It transformed the shape of Ireland gradually. The 1916 Rising, the centenary of which we will be commemorating in eight years' time, the War of Independence and so on were significant. It was also significant that while we had the treaty in 1922 and the continuing activity and control of Dáil Éireann over society, with the republican side, through Fianna Fáil, getting into Government in 1932, efforts were then accentuated to achieve real independence and sovereignty, to assert those rights, and to set aside as much of British influence as possible. That process led ultimately to the economic war.

Something lost sight of in this, which I think was an historical event, was the meeting of Éamon de Valera and many of his senior Ministers with Neville Chamberlain in April 1938, at which the annuities issue was determined and set aside. That and other issues were very much part of the economic war — the oath of allegiance obviously had been already dispensed with — particularly the acquisition of the ports to bring them under Irish control. That this laid the foundation for our neutrality in the Second World War was significant, particularly when we consider the atrocities and inflictions imposed on many countries during that period.

The philosophy of the time was the philosophy of Sinn Féin and of self-sufficiency. The Constitution was described by some as the urge of Irishmen to manage Ireland in Ireland's interest. That was significant at the time because the apparatus of the State, which was the Civil Service, had been continued from what was there under British rule. The Constitution was, if one likes, a throwback to an earlier era, perhaps back as far as the high kings, to connect sovereignty and our independence. It is a significant document as a consequence.

Like many others here who have been visiting the North for 30 years or more and talking to politicians there, I am struck by the assertion of this independence, which allows me to empathise with the thinking of the 1930s in its assertion and the breaking of the links with Britain. I am amazed by the number of UUP and DUP politicians to whom I have spoken, a small but significant number, who reflect the same philosophy and have said privately to me that they get nothing from the English and the sooner they get greater activity and connection with us, the more it will be in their interest. Therein, perhaps, lies the foundation for building a new Ireland. All the attempts and supports we have for all-Ireland activity and an all-Ireland economy and approach reflect the benefits that will be got by local people making decisions in their own interests, rather than a remote parliament making decisions in the interest of what is secondary to its overall priorities.

Senator Bradford touched on an aspect of this that affects us, namely, the issue of local government. We have had local government recognised in the Constitution, yet we have the least evolved system of local government of many of the OECD countries.