‘Brexit and the Future of Ireland: Uniting Ireland & Its People in Peace & Prosperity’
This is the first ever report by a Dail and Senate Committee on the issue of Uniting Ireland and its People in Peace & Prosperity for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. Please see below the link to this report. The all-party committee adopted the report unanimously, along with its 17 recommendations. I have begun working on these recommendations with appropriate experts in their fields to ensure progress.
The report for the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday
Agreement has seven sections;
Section 1 : Brexit & its impact on Ireland
Section 2 & 3 : Precedent of German Reunification for Ireland & Economic Modelling of Unification
Section 4 : Brexit and the Future for Ireland
Section 5 : Good Friday Agreement
Section 6 : Referendum as Provided for in the Good Friday Agreement
Section 7 : Constitutional & Legal Changes Before & After a Referendum
‘We were, therefore, left with only one choice, a policy of seeking unity in Ireland between Irishmen. Of its nature this is a long-term policy, requiring patience, understanding and forbearance and resolute resistance to emotionalism and opportunism. It is not the less patriotic for that’
Summary of Recommendations
Section 1 Recommendations
The Irish government must negotiate for Northern Ireland to be
designated with special status within the EU and for the whole island
of Ireland to have a unique solution as part of the Brexit negotiation.
If current EU funding programmes cannot be protected then the
eligibility of Northern Ireland for receipt of EU Structural funds and
other funding schemes and mechanisms must be clarified as a matter
of urgency, to help underpin the peace process.
The Report on the All-Ireland Economy: compiled in 2016 by Peadar
Tóibín TD for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and
Innovation in the light of Brexit should be updated.
Any passport controls between Ireland and the UK should be along the
same basis as for people traveling between these islands from 1939 to
1952. There should not be a return to passport controls on the borders
between the North and South of Ireland.
Given the likely impact on certain categories, including women, in border
counties and employment in these areas there is a need for impact
analysis on these sectors of society
Further research into the income and expenditure for Northern Ireland
should be carried out
Section 2 Recommendations
Welcome the declaration agreed to by the European Council on 29 April
2017 which provides for Northern Ireland automatically becoming part of
the EU in the event of a future united Ireland.
This declaration, known in Brussels as ‘The Kenny Text’, is similar to that
of Commission President Jacque Delors in January 1990 on the issue of
German Unification ‘East Germany is a special case’.
Section 3 Recommendations
It is recognised that World Trade Organisation rules and a hard border
would have a detrimental impact on Ireland North and South & Further
impact assessment is required on the economic impact of reunification.
The Committee urges that the matter of EU funding for Northern Ireland and
the border region remains high on the agenda and an expeditious solution is
found for successor programmes after 2020.
Section 4 Recommendations
The establishment of a New Ireland Forum 2 is recommended to set a
pathway to achieve the peaceful reunification of Ireland.
Establish an international task force with experts in security so that plans to
meet any risks may be devised and implemented.
Fears and concerns of the Unionist community need to be examined,
understood and addressed comprehensively by all stakeholders in advance
of any referendum.
The legacy issues in society outlined by Senator Frances Black and the
intergenerational impact of the troubles in terms of mental health
consequences and substance abuse needs to be addressed
Section 5 Recommendation
Explore potential solutions to resolve disputes that may arise from the
implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, as recommended by High Court
Justice Kevin Humphreys.
Section 6 Recommendation
Lessons from referendums need to be learned to ensure that the Irish
government fulfills its constitutional obligations.
Section 7 Recommendation
The Government needs to carry out an audit in relation to the
legal and constitutional changes pre and post-unification
Submissions and Appendices
‘Irexit’ submission by Ray Bassett
‘Brexit and the Border’ Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
‘Northern Ireland and EU Funding versus EU Contribution’ John Teahan
‘UN Human Development Index’ by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service
‘The European Parliament and German Unification’ by Marc Birchen
‘Modelling Irish Unification’ by KLC Consulting
‘Ireland and the UK from 1916 to Brexit’ by Martin Mansergh
‘Understanding the ‘Northern Irish’ Identity’ by John Garry and Kevin McNicholl
‘Threat of Violence’ Pat Finucane Centre
‘Counter Terrorism’ by Michael Ortiz, Obama security Advisor
Congressional Friends of Ireland US political support
‘Lessons learned by German Unification’ by Christian Tomuschat
Note on North South Border policy by TK Whitaker
‘Political Party positions on the Unity of Northern Ireland
‘The Process of EU membership following German Unification’ by Dr. Marcus Kotzur
RJN Security Council report on operation in Cypress
‘South Korea Unification Process’ by Marcus Nolan
‘General Brady and Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution’ by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service
‘Irish Parliamentarian Attitudes to Irish Unification’ by Fr. Sean McGraw
‘Joint Sovereignty’ Oireachtas Research Service
Behaviour and Analysis poll results attitude to the future state
Red C poll results on the Unification of Ireland
‘End of the beginning, reflection on Brexit and prospects’ by Kevin Meagher
The Good Friday Peace Agreement
‘The reasons for the defeats of the 1980 and 1995 Referendums in Quebec on sovereignty’ by the Oireachtas Library and Research Service
‘Scottish Independence Referendum 2014’ House of Commons research paper
Every Treaty signed between Ireland and England
