MUCH has been achieved since the civil rights campaign of 1968.
We have emerged from decades of political conflict towards a new society, of which the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 is the very foundation stone.
It was, and is, indispensable.
Peace alone is no longer good enough for a new generation who rightly demand basic civil, social, economic and cultural rights unjustly denied here.
After all the political breakdown of the past two years, the prospects of restoring the assembly and the executive in the north can seem remote.
But I believe there is hope, if all parties and both governments refocus on resolutions rather than recrimination in the new year.
The public deserve to have functioning government which they can have confidence in.
The present challenges which have undermined any genuine attempt to restore the executive must be confronted.
The DUP/Tory axis at Westminster has robbed Theresa May’s government of any pretence of impartiality.
This, along with the ongoing denial of rights to sections of citizens in the north and vicious austerity imposed from London, are wrong.
But progress is possible – if the political will exists.
Progressive nationalism expects to see the equality, mutual respect and all-Ireland approaches of the Good Friday Agreement fully embraced by the DUP.
The disrespect to Irish identity and culture must be consigned to the past and those who live their lives through the medium of Irish should have protection before the law.
Government must prevent not facilitate prejudice against women, the LGBT community and ethnic minorities.
Reform of the assembly and executive is a necessity particularly in the wake of the RHI scandal.
It means serving all of the people equally and preventing discrimination.
It means promoting the interests of the whole community.
We must follow the example of the late Martin McGuinness by promoting reconciliation to end sectarianism and bigotry.
Wider civic society must have a permanent place to advise and hold our politicians to account.
Any new executive should be an inclusive partnership coalition government.
There can be no more scandals like Red Sky, Nama and RHI.
We need serious civil service reforms and proper checks and balances.
We need ministers competent to do their jobs.
We need legislative reform to ensure special advisers operate in an accountable and lawful fashion.
We need open government where decisions are properly scrutinised with no hiding place for malpractice or cronyism.
We need to know that those participating in talks have the political will to reach agreement and have the mandate and authority to actually take decisions.
Brexit is hurtling towards us like a train wreck.
When Brexit was conceived by the Tories, Ireland was typically never a consideration.
Tory Brexiteers, the DUP, and the opposition at Westminster are all opposed to the backstop.
The backstop is an insurance policy against a hard border and our bottom line.
The people of the north voted by a cross-community majority to Remain.
The four Remain parties, Sinn Féin, SDLP, Alliance and Green Party, represent the majority in the north.
We recognise that the majority of people, businesses and civic society do not want Brexit.
This means avoiding a hard border, protecting the Good Friday Agreement and hard-won peace of the past 20 years, and staying within the single market and a customs union.
This withdrawal agreement currently on the table is by no means ideal, but it is the least worst option for Ireland.
We believe that a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for our economy and society.
It would mean crashing out of the EU on March 29 with supply shortages and many businesses unable to trade, resulting in job losses and a serious economic downturn.
Sinn Féin will continue to make our case to the EU27 in the Dáil and EU parliament and build a progressive coalition around our national interest in the weeks ahead.
Circumstances are rapidly changing which will inevitably lead to the break-up of the constitutional structures of the United Kingdom.
Sinn Féin has made it clear to the British prime minister in the case of a Brexit no-deal scenario that it is absolutely incumbent on them to announce a unity referendum.
Their planned imposition of Brexit demonstrates the democratic deficit inherent in a partitioned Ireland.
People from across this society are questioning the benefits of staying within the union after Brexit.
The EU has said in the event of reunification the whole of Ireland will automatically be subsumed back into the EU.
So the debate on our constitutional future is as much about our relationship with Europe as it is about Ireland itself.
The Good Friday Agreement provides a peaceful democratic pathway to Irish unity.
The political momentum is moving in that direction.
Sinn Féin wants a new Ireland, a fairer Ireland, and a united Ireland.
But we do not own the debate.
We can determine and create a shared future together
It is my sincere hope that 2019 is a time of real change.
The parties, governments and our civic leaders must have courage and choose hope over fear.
