Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue. I thank the Sinn Féin Senators for putting it forward. I am from Enniscorthy, a town deeply rooted in the story of Irish republicanism. I grew up listening to stories about the Battle of Vinegar Hill, the United Irishmen of 1798, the rebellion of 1916 and of Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone. They were big influences on my view of politics. I support the idea of a united Ireland. It is a deeply held belief and passion of mine. It is one I welcome the opportunity to speak about this evening. While I fundamentally disagree with so many issues and policies of Sinn Féin, on this issue we are in common cause. I will be supporting this motion and welcome that the Government is also supporting this motion, and it is great that the Minister of State is here. On this issue, it is important we recognise that in order for there to be a referendum, there must in the view of the British Secretary of State be a majority position on reunification held in Northern Ireland. My view is that the Government has to prepare. In fact, I am critical of the view that this is not a fundamental priority for any Irish government. It is my belief that reunification of this country has to be one of the top priorities for every government and must be until the point when Ireland is one united country in the future.

I was seven years of age when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. I do not have any memory of the Troubles growing up. I do not have any memory of the Omagh bombing. Those were simply issues that came along far beyond any living memory I have. I am from a different generation. I do not remember news reports of bombs going off, tragedies and deaths. I simply do not, but I am a passionate believer in the need for a united Ireland. The real question is how we get there. The Government has said it does not foresee a referendum taking place within the decade. I think we have to take the steps now to put in place all necessary provisions for what that referendum will look like and how it will work. I support the idea that we should have an Oireachtas committee examining what that will look like. The shared island unit needs to go further and faster. We have to make all necessary preparations, and it is so important that, in this Chamber and the Lower House, we have opportunities to discuss these issues. If we do not put the necessary groundwork in now across all aspects of government, then a referendum will come along and we will not have fully thought out what it will look like, how it will pass and how we will build a majority on both sides of the Border to make sure it does happen. I would be absolutely devastated if there were to be a referendum on a united Ireland and it did not pass.

It is so important that the work is put in now so we build through and on the idea of consent, recognising the importance of reconciliation and that any referendum that happens will be contentious, divisive and require buy-in from all sides. I look forward to the day when all Members of this House are on doors campaigning and canvassing, explaining to people how important this is and explaining to voters that this is something that needs to happen and needs buy-in. While there would be a perception out there that my party is maybe not as strong on this issue as it needs to be, I joined Fine Gael because I believed fundamentally that it is a party for which this is a core priority. The full title of our party is Fine Gael, the united Ireland party. When it was set up, that was one of the founding beliefs and remains so to this day. I recognise the work that was done, including by former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, to ensure that when a reunification referendum takes place and were it to pass, Northern Ireland would automatically become a part of the EU, a point made in this Chamber by Senator Conor Murphy. That is so important. I fundamentally believe in this. I really support this and will work with anybody in this Chamber on this issue. I believe in all of the parts put forward in the motion this evening. I want to see the Oireachtas set up a reunification referendum committee. It is important that happens. I want to see this getting top priority in the Government, and I want to see in my lifetime a referendum held and one that is going to pass. I really want to see this. I appreciate that, at 34 years of age, maybe this will not come to be. However, if we do not take the necessary steps now to put this in place and work towards it, then it will be left to another generation and another generation after that.