Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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136. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade given the commentary in a newspaper (details supplied) that debates on Irish unity must account for identity and cultural plurality, the way in which he plans to engage minority identity communities in any future unity frameworks; the progress that has been made on updating the Government's cross-Border consultative mechanisms to ensure inclusive representation; the role Cork-based constituencies, with diaspora and cultural links, have in shaping national policy on identity, unity and constitutional change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58424/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The approach of any Irish Government to unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998 to incorporate the framework set out in the Good Friday Agreement.

Everyone on the island has the right to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see, whether nationalist, unionist or neither. As the Programme for Government states, we are committed to the unity of the Irish people. We remain steadfast in implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full.

In the event of a future referendum within the consent provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will make all necessary preparations in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and the principles and procedures of the Agreement.

In respect of minority identity communities, I would recall the relevance of article 1(v) of the Constitutional Issues section of the Agreement:

‘... whatever choice is freely exercised by a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, the power of the sovereign government with jurisdiction there shall be exercised with rigorous impartiality on behalf of all the people in the diversity of their identities and traditions and shall be founded on the principles of full respect for, and equality of, civil, political, social and cultural rights, of freedom from discrimination for all citizens, and of parity of esteem and of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos, and aspirations of both communities.’

I would further note the Agreement’s guarantee that it is the birthright of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves and be accepted as British or Irish, or both, as they may so choose. These obligations are incorporated in the British Irish Agreement, the treaty between the Irish and British Governments that gives effect to the Good Friday Agreement in international law.

More broadly, the Programme for Government identifies a number of priorities for advancing our shared peace on the island of Ireland, including promoting reconciliation, addressing the legacy of the Troubles, and building our shared island.

Work is progressing in all three areas.

In September, after months of intensive negotiation, I announced, together the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Joint Framework on Legacy, which provides for sweeping reforms of the mechanisms designed to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and across this island. Once faithfully implemented and up and running, this will have a significant and positive impact on reconciliation across these islands.

Our ambitious agenda for promoting reconciliation and building a shared island is backed by the Shared Island Initiative, including the Shared Island Fund, now a €2 billion commitment out to 2035. That is delivering real progress across the island through a wide range of projects, ranging from major infrastructural commitments like the Narrow Water Bridge to improved people-to-people connections through the Shared Island Civic Society Fund. That fund is administered by my Department and focuses on connecting grassroots community organisations, North and South, by supporting joint-projects between organisations on either side of the border.

My Department also administers the Reconciliation Fund, the Government’s flagship programme for reconciliation on this island and across these islands since 1982. We have increased the Fund’s budget to over €7 million in 2024. This year alone, 154 projects have so far benefited from our support.

There is also extensive cross-border cooperation through the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the six North South implementation bodies.

Finally, in respect to Cork-based constituencies. It is vital that people from all parts of this island, and indeed our diaspora, engage actively in the process of promoting reconciliation and building a Shared Island. I acknowledge and welcome the contribution of all constituencies in that endeavour.