ALL parties who aspire to see an end to partition should together formulate a ‘road map’ for Irish unity, a discussion on the place for unionism within a 32-county Ireland has heard.
‘Six into 32 – accommodating Northern Ireland in a united Ireland’ was the theme of the third annual Lighthouse Summer School in Killough, Co Down.
Irish News security correspondent Allison Morris chaired a panel discussion in which Sinn Féin South Down MP Chris Hazzard was joined by SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon, Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong, Fianna Fáil TD Declan Breathnach and commentator Patricia Mac Bride.
Ms Mac Bride called for a "mammy economics" sketch of precisely how much money is needed to run Northern Ireland, noting that economic growth in the Republic far outstrips that in the north.
Ms Armstrong emphasised the “fluidity of identity” but stressed how advocates of Irish unity had some distance to travel in order to convince people from all identities that they would be better off in a 32-county republic.
The newly-appointed SDLP deputy leader noted how nationalists north and south, as well as unionists, needed to be persuaded about the merits of unity.
The North Belfast MLA also warned about rushing into a border poll before there was a clear vision of what Irish unity would look like.
Ms Mallon said the campaign for unity “cannot be led by one party alone”.
“To be successful it needs plurality of contributions,” she said.
Mr Breathnach said Fianna Fáil would be in a position to confirm before the end of the year whether it would field candidates north of the border in the 2019 local government elections.
He too stressed the need for “road map” formulated collectively by pro-unity parties.
Mr Hazzard said growing secularism across the island had advanced the unity agenda.
“Catholic Ireland’s days are gone – the whole paradigm has changed,” the Sinn Féin MP said.
Commentator Chris Donnelly, whose opening presentation helped frame the day’s discussion, said the event highlighted that greater effort was needed to formulate a clear vision of a united Ireland.
“The contributions from panellists reflected the growing realisation that talk of Irish unity in a Brexit context is fanciful unless the other formidable challenges are addressed by unity supporters,” he said.
“This includes the need to consider retaining Northern Ireland as some form of a devolved region to accommodate unionists in a reverse minority context.”
The Lighthouse Summer School was organised by Irish News political correspondent John Manley.
