Conor Murphy (Sinn Fein)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I thank the Minister of State for his presence in the Seanad Chamber this evening to discuss the fundamental issue of the future of our country. As we are aware, this Private Members' business was discussed in the Dáil Chamber in October. The Dáil agreed with the motion on that occasion, and I am hopeful the Seanad will adopt a similar position this evening.

The reunification of our country will be the greatest gift our generation can bestow on the young people of Ireland. Irish unity is about much more than simply stitching on the Six Counties of the North to the Twenty-six Counties of the South. While territorial reintegration is central to the unity proposition, it is the opportunity which unity provides to build a true Ireland of equals for all the citizens of our nation that is the driving ambition behind the unity campaign. Reunification is not simply the aspiration of united lrelanders; it is fundamentally supported by Bunreacht na hÉireann, and the reunification of Ireland is the stated position of all the major political parties in this State.

There is growing momentum across political, business, cultural and civic society for constitutional change. The fact that discussions are at such a level is remarkable when one considers the refusal to date of the Government to initiate a comprehensive process which would facilitate the detailed analysis and planning required for a successful unity project. The Good Friday Agreement provides the pathway to reunification. It is very straightforward. Referendums must be held concurrently North and South. The referendums must be successful and a new phase of nation-building must be initiated, one which is inclusive and welcoming and involves people from diverse backgrounds.

All of us in this Chamber know our nation's past and the colonial oppression that has been endured by our people for centuries. There were multiple references to that yesterday, when President Zelenskyy was visiting, from some of the speakers who addressed both Houses. We know too the effects that partition has had on our island.

Crucially, the Good Friday Agreement ended the war in lreland, and the current generations of children thankfully do not experience the conflict some of us grew up with. However, the Good Friday Agreement was not the end of the matter. Rather, the agreement outlined for the first time a peaceful and democratic pathway to unity. This was agreed by both the Irish and the British Governments. The referendums on Irish unity are an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement, and the Irish Government is a co-guarantor of that agreement and has a responsibility to facilitate the democratically expressed wishes of the people of Ireland. We want to be free to govern ourselves and determine our own destiny. That is what uniting Ireland is about. That is what self-determination is about. Without the right to self-determination for the people of the North, all other rights are illusory. Brexit proved that, if there were any doubt. The democratic decision of the people of the North was not respected because the right to self-determination continues to be denied.

Our economy, if properly managed, has the potential to significantly benefit from the removal of barriers on the island. The potential of the North as part of the all-island economy is extraordinary. Cross-border trade has grown from less than £2 billion in 1998 to £12.4 billion annually today. Across the North there is massive potential for renewable energy delivery, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, fintech and cybersecurity. There are world-class universities, teacher training colleges, researchers and a young, ambitious workforce. There is a vibrant cultural heritage, a thriving tourism sector and, of course, great poets, athletes and artists. The Irish language is thriving. Our hard-earned peace has benefited everyone, and we are ready to write the next chapter together.

This Private Members' motion is a call to action to the Government. We are asking that it establish an all-island representative citizens' assembly or assemblies to allow for informed debate and an Oireachtas joint committee on Irish unity to enable careful planning. We want the Government to produce and publish a plan towards Irish unity in conjunction with civic society and key stakeholders. This was also a recommendation of a committee of the Oireachtas in the previous mandate. We encourage the Government to engage with northern Protestant and unionist opinion about the future of Ireland, as we have done, publicly and privately, for many years. People from the Protestant tradition are a vital and integral part of our new shared future. There cannot be a new lreland that does not celebrate and include those from this tradition. They will be every bit as valid as Irish citizens as anyone in this Chamber this evening.

Crucially, we believe it is now time to work to secure a date for the referendums on unity provided for in the Good Friday Agreement. That means the Irish Government must, without delay, initiate a conversation with the British Government around the holding of such referendums.

Most, if not all, of us in this Chamber share the desire to see self-determination for all the people who share this island. Sometimes we differ in our view on the best path to achieving that goal, but I think the unity campaign can be a great unifier among both the parties and the people who support it. There is a major role to be played by civic and community groups, which will be central to winning the referendums. Our global diaspora must be included as well. We have an opportunity to forge a new relationship with Britain. It will always be our nearest neighbour and the ties of family and friends mean that there will always be a close affinity with that country. Going forward, it will be a partnership of equals. That is one of the lessons of the Brexit experience.The other critical lesson is that significant change must be planned for and managed by governments. The Good Friday Agreement clearly identified where such responsibility lies. To ignore the process of change gathering pace across Ireland is not simply to stick your head in the sand; it is a dereliction of duty for any sovereign government.