I SUSPECT there are a few people out there who were lighting candles that the Ireland’s Future event in the 3Arena last Saturday would fail. The starting point for failure would be a smaller crowd than anticipated. The Irish Times on Friday noted that the 3Arena had capacity to hold 9,000. A statement of fact – or a high bar so that anything less might look like failure. What’s that – only 5,000? Huh! Another point of attack, compliments of the Alliance Party, would be that the event was a celebration of the notion of a united Ireland. Except it wasn’t. We had speakers pointing up the difficulties, the weaknesses in the case for a united Ireland, as well as arguing for the benefits it would offer. To diverge for a moment: what did you make of (relatively) young Kyle Paisley’s apparently pro-united Ireland talk last week? He seemed to be predicting that a united Ireland was on its way. Another notable shoulder being applied to the united Ireland bandwagon? Mmm, mayb
Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile commends thoughtful and inclusive discussions at Seanad Committee hearing
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Seanad sessions on constitutional future of Ireland an important opportunity for inclusive dialogue - Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile
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AS the conversation surrounding constitutional change on the island of Ireland continues to gain momentum, three members of the Oireachtas gathered in St Mary’s University College to set out their vision on the important aspects around preparations for a New Ireland. Joining the panel were Labour party’s Senator Marie Sherlock, Fianna Fáil’s Erin McGeehan and Sinn Féin TD Louise O’Reilly. While each representative rehashed their party positions, it was the question and answer session with the audience which bore fruit. It was refreshing to hear Senator Erin McGeehan talk about how the establishment parties in the South need to approach policy with a 32 county mindset and how voters in the North should have a vote in Presidential elections, however I was left wondering how her own party's partitionist policy when it comes to standing candidates in the North fits into her grand view for a ‘New Ireland’.