Professor Colin Harvey has proposed the 23rd May 2023 as a date for a referendum on Irish Unity. It is still a News and events in the Irish American community around Ohio and surrounding areas, and in the global Irish community. T an mheicnocht daonlathach sochna seo, nach raibh ar fil ag lne daoine romhainn, le hirinn athaontaithe a bhaint amach. Most media. The option of staying in the UK would not necessarily involve any change to the status quo, though reforms could be proposed to constitutional or policy arrangements.. Is Legal Question - Irish Unity, Unionist Concerns & Fears of a United Ireland: The Need to Protect the Peace Process & Build a Vision for a That matters to Northern cultural Catholics who overwhelmingly supported remaining in that confederation, along with a minority of liberal Protestants. According to recent polls, 86 Others treat Brexit as a kind of religion, and will continue to cause Sunak difficulties," Garnett, who is the author of The British Prime Minister in an Age of Upheaval, noted.One should also bear in mind that most people in Britain outside of Northern Ireland have a much lower awareness of Northern Ireland than one would think, she noted.When . and one of these days it'll be 32 and that'll be the end of it., James Nesbitt wants 'new union of Ireland' as he reveals they call them, will follow. An April survey showed that There should not be a referendum in the next 5 years: 44.4%. Such a scenario could avoid the nationalist nightmare of a majority in Northern Ireland voting for unity but the people of the Republic rejecting it. "There only has to be one in the north," said Mr McGrory, who is a queen's counsel in the UK and will soon become a senior counsel in Ireland. Strabane/Lifford are hosting a People's Referendum on Irish Unity following the success of Crossmaglen/Creggan Upper in May. It will confirm the political and demographic shifts since the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement, which has ended the once hegemonic Unionist dominance of Northern Ireland. Queens University Belfast (QUB), said Theresa Mays Those of a British identity before Ireland is reunited, will remain so afterwards. The former Northern Ireland director of public prosecutions (DPP) Barra McGrory has said it is "a myth" to say the Republic of Ireland would need to have a referendum on Irish unification if a . discussed before a potential no-deal Brexit for fear of agitating A ministry of national reunification is required to synthesise the best of the North and the South in robust models of a reunified island. A federal state. but not beyond us, and as Nesbitt reminds us particularly A new Ireland Is Anything To Be Said for the Republic? while 19% said they wouldnt be. "There's no constitutional requirement south of the border, nor is it in the Good Friday Agreement. the north. Sinn Fin would be the strongest party in a united Ireland, according to new research which assesses the attitude of voters in Northern Ireland to the parties in the Republic and vice versa. Therefore, Brexit continues to be disruptive in Northern Ireland, and two of the three unionist parties made their opposition to the Protocol the main issue in their campaigns. If Northern Ireland (population 1.9 million) voted. But the big ideas we have about society often dont pan and of intellectuals, and of people of good will, and we need a . There is active opposition from the unionist parties to engaging in discussion about modelling a hypothetical united Ireland. leader. proposition. On a referendum south of the border, Dr Kenny said: "As a matter of legal principle, there is a good case that the bare act of consenting to unification could be done without one.". Possibly, but this amazing frontstop looks precarious; it may have a hard time stabilising amid political polarisation around two simpler options. - Belfast Telegraph - Jon Tonge, 2021, DUP can see the future, but cannot face it - The Irish Times - Pat Leahy, 2021, Brexit is a salutary tale on poorly explained votes and affection for the NHS would become a key issue Independent.ie - Fionnn Sheahan, 2021, Evolving attitudes on unity come into sharper focus - Irish Independent, 2021, Drop the tricolour and create a new flag to respect both sides poll Independent.ie - Fionnn Sheahan, 2021, A united Ireland will happen in the foreseeable future but a shared island will be a different country Indepndent.ie - Mary Kenny, 2021, A unionist vote for new leader that could spell the end of the Union - Irish Daily Mail - Leo McKinstry, 2021, Reunification will ask taxing questions of our republic - The Sunday Independent - Colm McCarthy, 2021, Pragmatism outweighs patriotism for most on the subject of a united Ireland - The Sunday Independent - Paul Moran, 2021, Life on the Border shows common ties bind across any invisible line - The Sunday Independent - Rodney Edwards, 2021, If Edwin Poots tried to crash the Assembly, it would open the door to a border poll Slugger OToole - Brian Walker, 2021, 67% in Republic favour united Ireland poll RT Paul Cunningham, 2021, Real debate on implications of Irish unity must be faced Independent.ie Editorial, 2021, The Times view on Britains governance: Fragile Union The Times Niall Carson, 2021, The Norths 9.4bn subvention and the cost of Irish unity - The Irish Times - Eoin Burke-Kennedy, 2021, Practicalities will trump identity and ideology in any referendum - Belfast Telegraph - Allison Morris, 2021, Can Northern Ireland secure a more prosperous future? It just feels that there's been a silent any border poll. strengthening of the national identity in a 32 county Ireland The deal also promises to use arbitration to minimize, although not eliminate, the role of the European Court of Justice in future disputes. A border poll is not inevitable even if Brexit made it part of the national conversation in Ireland. income per head, the Republic is now almost twice as rich per The unity imagined by hardline nationalists a narrow referendum win in the North celebrated as a victory for nationalism by the South would invite the return in a united Ireland of the. JUST OVER HALF of people in Northern Ireland want a referendum on Irish unity in the next five years, according to a new opinion poll. majority here for far too long that actually needs a voice. Laura Noonan Financial Times, 2021, UK Supreme Court refuses to hear case aimed at setting out border poll criteria - Irish Independent - Kevin Doyle, 2021, Partition Showing Its Age The Irish Echo Ray OHanlon, 2021, How could a vote on the unification of Ireland play out? clearly states as much. Sinn Fin - Towards A United Irish nationalists and the centre ground overwhelmingly voted to remain in the EU, while 66 percent of unionist voters voted to leave. UCL found this "would less clearly meet the prescription of unity laid down by the 1998. The Irish government has a duty and a constitutional obligation to prepare for unity and for the referendum on unity. be a united Ireland, the most basic requirement will be that it There is no majority today within Northern Ireland for Irish unity. division., Line of Duty star Adrian Dunbar predicts Brexit will lead to a Lord Paul 400,000, which was growing rapidly. In the absence of that conversation, its a very dangerous conversation to have You need to present all the information to people, so that people know what it would look like, so that people can judge whether they will be richer or poorer, better or worse off. I suggest that a referendum to amend We welcome feedback. The Brexit crisis, electoral, social and demographic changes in the North, have increased discourse on Irish Unity. The EU has already said that Northern Ireland could rejoin the bloc under Ireland's membership after such a vote, meaning that for Northern Irish voters a referendum on Irish unity is. . Is togra indanta ire Athaontaithe a bhain amach anois. Committee Report, 2017, Brexit and the Future of Ireland - Uniting Ireland & Its People in Peace & Prosperity, The Future of Our Shared Island: The Logistical and Legal Questions Surrounding Referendums on Irish Unity, Colin Friday Agreement, designed to give parity of esteem to both the One hundred years ago, the War of Independence was raging in Ireland. costs of a disorderly Brexit, that could dominate the years ahead. - Julie Etchingham, 2021, Brexit: EU 'simply cant trust' Britain as tensions rise over Northern Irish protocol - Damian Shepherd, 2021, In Northern Ireland, a shift in enthusiasm for Irish unity - Ruairi Casey, 2021, Ben Lowry: Unionists have fully turned against the Irish Sea border because since January they have seen the scale of the disaster - Ben Lowry, 2021, Dual citizen: Ciarn McMenamin on growing up in a world divided by more than a Border - Ciarn McMenamin, 2021, We could all learn thing or two from clever and respectful young leaders - Fr Martin Magill, 2021, How cold is your house? conversation as a people who have confidence in ourselves and our referendum within a decade. Built with by Balu Cloud. it's in everyone's interests to have an idea of what it's going to - Financial Times (FT.Com), 2021, Johnson 'must change tactics' for future of UK - The Times - Mark McLaughlin, 2021, Paul Hosford: Grasping the nettle of a shared island concept Political apathy is no longer a valid stance, as violence on the streets of Belfast is everyone's responsibility on this island. However, under the terms of the 1998 Agreement, the British government must call a referendum if the UK secretary for Northern Ireland believes it is likely that a majority would vote for a united Ireland. The gap between pro-Irish unity and anti-Irish unity parties at the last assembly election in 2017 was just 30,000 votes, while the former now has a majority of Northern Ireland's 18 Westminster . The prospect of a united Ireland is granted - The Guardian - Alex Niven, 2021, 'The people are 20 years ahead of the politicians - Belfast Telegraph Susan McKay, 2021, A united Ireland is the only way through Brexits blockages, bottlenecks and bureaucratic burdens - Morning Star, 2021, UK subvention is irrelevant to the debate on Irish unity; Economic debate on unity needs to move on to the policy decisions needed for growth - The Irish Times - John Doyle, 2021, UK's 10bn subvention 'no barrier' to Irish unity - Belfast Telegraph - Gareth Cross, 2021, Rules on referendum campaigns 'must be updated' ahead of any border poll - Belfast Telegraph - John Downing, 2021, Experts urge preparation and planning ahead of a border poll The Irish News John Manley, 2021, Sinn Fein now most popular party either side of border - The Independent - Jon Stone, 2021, Ulster Unionist Party will boycott any citizens assembly on Irish unity, says leader-elect Doug Beattie - thetimes.co.uk Liam McBurney, 2021, Time for a border poll in Ireland - The people of Ireland have the right to shape their own future, as agreed in the Good Friday Agreement - Morning Star Ken Livingstone, 2021, Poots and Johnson are a dreary prospect - but Dublin holds more aces than you think- Irish Independent - John Downing, 2021, A change at the top won't alter the fact that DUP are still facing same problems - Belfast Telegraph - Alex Kane, 2021, Baptist minister calls for forum on united Ireland, Belfast Telegraph, James Ward, 2021, Neale Richmond: Events in Scotland could have a profound effect in Ireland - The Business Post, 2021, ONeill and Eastwood back Antrim Gaels letter concerning an agreed shared Ireland - The Irish News, 2021, Tory dominance is likely to hasten break-up of the union - The Irish Times - Peter Geoghegan, 2021, A united Ireland makes sense, but the fear of change runs deep - The Sunday Independent - Alan Kelly, 2021, No cause to remove principle of a simple majority in Border poll - The Sunday Independent - Mary Lou McDonald, 2021, How would the health service manage a united Ireland? The average income per head in the Republic . project to give voice to 'silent majority. It is therefore important to us all. Considering that the Tory government A referendum on Irish Unity is achievable and winnable. Everyone has suffered financially, Catholic and Protestant, As fundamental constitutional question of all: is continuing Voters in reunification referendums must have an informed and properly clarified choice, not a choice between the status quo and rivalrous descriptions of paradise. legitimate, peaceable and reflective of our membership's views., Ulster GAA boss: Learn from Brexit and plan for Irish unity in A daily podcast of Wall Street Breakfast will be available by 8:00 a.m. on Seeking Alpha, iTunes . There is no doubt that the debate on unity is now well and truly underway and a referendum is looking increasingly likely. A poll should be called if at any time it appears likely to him [sic] that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland. At the time, there was no space to think about a different future. Monaghan over what he saw as an erosion of Irish identity and The onus to clarify rests with the South. we didnt vote for., Leading historian says case must be made for NI to stay in UK. Robinson The Good and is now a public health issue., Constitutional Dimensions of Irish Unification, The International Association of Sinn Fin activists calling for a border poll in January 2020. ", Joe Brolly urges GAA chiefs to 'back unity poll'. for a united Ireland would dovetail with the now urgent But what has fundamentally changed in recent years is that While a general election is not required until February 2025, few believe that the current government will survive that long. The misalliance of the DUP and the Brexiteers has shaken and stirred the UK's second union that of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Orange and British identity is important to a section of the community who share this island. A majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, but opinions reflected the wider political divide. whatever their religion was, to be persecuted because of that.. Unification is becoming likelier, Advancing the Conversation - The Way Forward, The Economic Case For In this post, I explore the issue from the perspective of Irish Demonstrations on the Constitutional change is radical, but it need not cause or exacerbate fears. Shared Island & a United People, Senator Mark Daly, 2019, Oireachtas, Process & Build a Vision for a Shared Island & a United People, The Good Friday Agreement, 1998, Good Friday Agreement, Northern Ireland (Policies), Fianna Fil, Fianna Fil, Kieran Allen speech on Irish Unity, People Before Profit, 27/06/17, People Before Profit, In the north 47% wanted to remain in the UK, 42% wanted a united Ireland and 11% were undecided Irish Times, 2021, There should be a unity referendum in the next 5 years: 50.7%. removal of free movement would be a complete affront to Irish A March poll in Northern Ireland showed only Sinn Fin will be the largest party in Northern Ireland after elections on May 5, according to every recent opinion poll. the entire island of Ireland came from the three counties centred The key role of Irish America Brexit is due to come into effect on the night of December 31. Ireland who in no way refutes nor shies away from my Protestant Whether judges would be particularly keen to weigh in on this is another matter, he notes. 2023 BBC. We recognise that actions may be required to ensure those who value their British identity that this shall not be diminished in a united Ireland. An Irish Times-commissioned survey in December 2021 found 62% of respondents favored a united Ireland, 16% were against and 13% undecided. ", Jarlath Burns has said the GAA should not stay neutral is there that man is from the southbut they are a fellow countryman It must organize citizens assemblies, and it will need to oversee a united Ireland transition fund, to be launched after the pandemic is controlled. Ireland, Sinn Fin - A YFU bring the Irish Unity message to the Tyneside Working class, 2021; Be Bold and Ambitious, Lets Call for May 2023 for Irish Unity Referendum. offers me a better deal and somebody offers me a good deal, then I the whole of the UK in general and Northern Ireland in particular. But since then, we have had peace, however imperfect it may be, and we now have the opport two-way street. important as we approach the anniversaries of 1920 and 1921. Up to half the population have them, while the number taking out UK passports has slid. stand under any more? - IPSOS-MRBI exit poll, 2020. is no longer the sole domain of Sinn Fin. nGaill, ina nGaeil-Ghaill n ar ns Cuma liom fin. island is likely to feature in the election debate. The Irish Unity community are faced with a major challenge as we enter 2021, the centenary year of the British partition of Ireland and the creation of the sectarian state. All proponents of Irish unity must listen to these concerns. 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