Fine Fáil and Fine Gael’s draft ‘framework for government’ document speaks of setting towards a ‘shared future’ on a ‘united island’ premised on the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, to be arrived at through agreement with unionism.
It posits the political structures of the Agreement — the northern assembly, the north-south bodies and the wider east-west council and conference — not as though means to speed Irish Unity but as the outline themselves of its would-be form.
As such, all of these bodies are to be retained come a United Ireland and are to form its constitutional framework. Indeed interim to our arrival at such a point, at this pseudo would-be United Ireland, they propose an expansion of current east-west structures — not just for the here and now and the meantime but for the future, into perpetuity.
In this sense, they hope to give even greater weight to the British state in the affairs of Ireland, rather than effecting a lessening of same, and not just in the interim. This is intended not as interim but as the ultimate destiny of the Irish Nation. By these means, we are to be permanently fixed to Britain.
It is an unacceptable derogation of our sovereignty and must, as such, be abandoned. Setting aside that the British state has no title to Ireland and should anyway leave, when the Unionist Veto goes — as it’s set to — then the British state must go too, entire.
While there is a positive to be taken in that at least we can see, here, the Dublin establishment being dragged towards Irish Unity, to supporting it in policy against its own instincts — even in this heavily revised form — we must pressure and pull them even further from their comfort zone and insist on our national rights.
Indeed the task of organised Irish Republicanism is to drag them all of the way — to the only position we can settle for ultimately, as a country and as a people: our full freedom independence and sovereignty as a full 32-county republic.
As an Irish tradition and as a section of our people, unionism can of course have an input into that future — to the form and workings of any would-be republic — but it can’t be given power to veto its formation, to keep it from thus ever being. The tail cannot be let wag the dog, that Ireland be kept from her due.
As Brexit and demographic change across Ireland carve new political frontiers, which the Dublin establishment at Leinster House is hurriedly attempting to contain, on that object is where we must focus. As a ‘change moment’ in history speeds steadily towards us, the prize on offer is a great one. Let’s not be denied it by settling up short of our entitlements.
Sean Bresnahan is an independent Republican from Co. Tyrone who
blogs @ Claidheamh Soluis. Follow Sean Bresnahan on Twitter @bres79
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I am English but lived in the Republic for ten years and I support these views entirely.
ReplyDeleteIt is a tad disappointing, Sean, to see you still banging the same old drum. Very few in the 26c are clamouring for a UI, so why should FF/FG clamour for one? They are listening to their voters. They are also more worried about the political and economic implications of Brexit and the pandemic. The RoI is very reliant on the UK for its prosperity yet you seem to still want a total divorce from the UK. Many in Ireland are influenced culturally by the UK in terms of language, TV, business, sport etc republicanism's hatred of all things British is not shared by the majority of Irish people. Also you still fail to realise republicanism's ability to shape events on this island. Republicanism is a spent force, all we have seen this week is the lovely face of Lyra McKee on our screens as a reminder of what republicanism is and does. Come on Sean, face reality and stop pushing that big stone up that hill.
ReplyDeletePeter,
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit rich coming from you considering the sun never set on the British empire and Irish Republicans never ruled the waves or killed anyone in Iraq or Afghanistan:
https://www.iraqbodycount.org/
https://www.psr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/body-count.pdf
And have you forgotten already about Soldier F?
When Sf enter govt, they will kick Usaf out of Shannon ( in 2050) .
DeleteUnionist agreement has always been majority rule. It has been their mantra for all of my life and they should be held to respect it when they are not the majority. They have been spoiled with an unsustaonable guarantee that their veto is the goose that just keeps giving.
ReplyDeletePeter, I have seen you comment on the Quill about "Republicanism's hatred of all things British" before. I understand it may be theoretically possible to find a Republican who hates all things British but I have never seen it. I have seen plenty of misguided and misplaced hatred but you get that with any demographic and any political movement.
ReplyDeleteNot only have I never heard of a Republican who hates everything British, to ascribe your fantasy to Republicanism as a whole says more about you than Republicanism. Why? Because it's not true.
Bobby Sands was fond of Kipling's poems if not his politics. Sinn Fein made many allies with the left in England. Did Republicanism despise the Troops Out movement? I don't think they did. Some ex-British soldiers joined the Republican movement and some of them went to jail for attacks like bombs in Britain. I guess Republicanism hated them too? Many Republicans enjoy aspects of British culture that you listed in the same way as others in Ireland, some to the point of fanaticism.
Republicanism shares common interests of many things British with the rest of Ireland. I am talking about reality, not in your narrow mind. However, I bet you know its bollocks and you're only trying to convince whoever reads your comment with this poor man's subterfuge.
"Come on Sean, face reality and stop pushing that big stone up that hill" you say? Sounds like you are trying to silence him. Not force him to stop but somehow convince or cajole him.
In your black and white world Republicanism hates every thing that's British and the Irish people are not interested in a United Ireland.
No-one is denying that Ireland benefits culturally, socially or economically from Britain but the opposite is true also. They are nearest neighbours. Ireland has it's own distinctive culture too. British culture has been historically part of that. And again the same with the Irish in Britain.
What we object to is the democratic deficit of being ruled from Westminster. I am not much of a Republican as I see the benefit of devolved government and I see the practical need to report crime to the police. They have the forensic and logistic ability to solve crimes. I would rather they investigated a serious crime than risk nepotism of favouritism on the street.
A century of misrule and the polls are changing significantly. I am not saying its black and white, but Irish unity is closer than ever and all that may be needed is something to push it over the line. Brexit maybe? Who knows. Most understand violence isn't the way. Look at Scotland's comparatively more successful, peaceful attempts.
I think you know it's closer than ever which is why you spin your web of deceit to cajole or convince people not to support a United Ireland. Wanting a United Ireland is not synonymous with violence. But you know that too, right?
Simon
ReplyDeleteFucking hell, you read a lot into things that don't exist. Don't stereotype me as a typical loyalist. 4 or 5 years ago Sean and I had a lengthy debate on UI, I was merely noting that he hasn't changed his tune. Don't read into things that you have no context for. The comment was for Sean not me trying to preach to anybody or 'silence' anybody. It is my opinion that republicanism as a brand and as an idea for a 32 county republic is a busted flush, incapable of success and so should be abandoned as it only gives succour to extremists. Any UI will be a mammoth process of compromise because there is much reticence for change in both jurisdictions.
As for the hatred, everyday on twitter I see petty hatred of Britain from republicans and petty hatred of Ireland from loyalists. I have an old comrade who fucking celebrates when the Ireland rugby team lose!
And finally,wanting to unite Ireland is not synonymous with violence but Irish republicanism is.
"Don't stereotype me as a typical loyalist" All I did was address your arguments.
ReplyDeleteI remember a few lengthy debates on here under Sean's pieces and I know you were arguing your point before. I thought it was more than once but apart from that I am aware of the context.
Yes, there is hatred on all sides and a United Ireland will demand a hefty compromise. I think we can agree on that.