Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Over the past few weeks, the Oireachtas has been a venue for some important debates on Irish unity. Ireland's Future met 11 political parties from across Ireland, most of them with representatives elected to the Dáil and Seanad. I pay tribute to our colleague, Senator Black, for her work in that regard. They discussed how best to develop dialogue among the parties to ensure the momentum for constitutional change is expanded. The Good Friday Agreement committee discussed a report called Mapping Diversity, Negotiating Differences: Constitutional Discussions on a Shared Island, presented by Professor Jennifer Todd of UCD, and Dr. Joanne McEvoy of the University of Aberdeen. The report revealed a high level of interest in the debate about a united Ireland and the difficulties for marginalised groups - women, ethnic minorities and young people - to be involved in the debate.

I will give an update on events that have been taking place in the North in recent weeks. The Houben Centre is in north Belfast and straddles an area profoundly affected by the conflict. It has two doors. One opens onto Ardoyne, a nationalist area, and the other open onto the Shankill road, a loyalist area. It is a venue for all-community dialogue. It was the location for a Sinn Féin event, as part of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, entitled Tackling Sectarian Segregation. The place and ethos of the new Shankill Women's Centre is a good example of community and personal responsibility being exercised in this regard. In Áras Uí Chongaile, a former British soldier and two former political prisoners - a loyalist and republican - took part in a debate on memory and how it should be expressed without offending people. This is a cutting-edge venue funded by the US trade union movement to honour the legacy of James Connolly. I recommend that all colleagues visit the venue should they get the opportunity to do so when they are in Belfast. Its doors are open to all progressive movements and ideas. Minority, women and language rights in a united Ireland were discussed in detail at Ulster University, which discussions were chaired by Queens University law professor Colin Harvey and Patricia McKeown of UNISON.This is a snapshot of the widespread dialogue that is taking place across this country. It is quality dialogue that is breaking new ground. It not only needs to be supported by the Seanad and Dáil, but its development needs to be a priority for the Irish Government. The people involved need a home for their energies and vision and that home is a citizens' assembly. The Government needs to establish one without further delay and I call for a debate on that issue.