The New Ireland Commission today wrote to the leaders of political parties in the South ahead of an anticipated general election urging them to make a commitment to Irish unity as an objective of government in their manifesto.
Commission Chair Colum Eastwood MP made the call on political leaders following an event in Derry in September where former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar encouraged political parties to treat the unification of the island as an objective rather than an aspiration.
Colum Eastwood MP said:
“Through the New Ireland Commission, we are engaging with people from a diverse range of backgrounds about what the future of our island looks like. The conversations are substantive and demonstrate to us that there is a real appetite for a discussion about change.
“My view has always been that unity is the biggest, boldest and most exciting political idea around but that those of us who believe in it have a duty to set out what that looks like, what it would mean for people and how their lives would be improved. That’s why, on behalf of the New Ireland Commission, I have written to party leaders asking them to commit to a pledge in their manifesto ahead of the general election to make the unification of our island an objective of government. I agree with former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar when he says it needs to be more than just an aspiration.
“We need to demonstrate to people that we can reorder health services to meet their needs, we can shape an economy that generates good jobs across Ireland and that we can improve quality of life for everyone on our island. As we now face into an uncertain geopolitical period, we need to begin to think about what our future really looks like. That’s the challenge and opportunity we’re all faced with now.”