United Ireland preparations should begin “immediately,” Oireachtas Committee says

The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement launched its report "Perspectives on Constitutional Change: Finance and Economics" on Tuesday, July 16.

The Committee said on Tuesday that its newly-published report is the first output from a series of meetings exploring what a united Ireland would mean and examines the current economic relationship between the jurisdictions on the island and the potential of the all-island economy.

The report, the Committee said, goes on to examine the cost of a united Ireland and makes the case for planning and preparation for a united Ireland to begin.

The Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has published its report: "Perspectives on Constitutional Change: Finance & Economics".

Report: https://t.co/ejlPyzmsw8
Release: https://t.co/RfAGHSxQx1 pic.twitter.com/ZakZw7YAqF

— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) July 16, 2024

The Committee said that work on this report began shortly after last year's 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

"The Peace Process brought profound change to the island of Ireland. In the quarter of a century since the Good Friday Agreement, there has been a dramatic increase in prosperity on the island, including through foreign direct investment (FDI) and through an increase in cross-border trade," the Committee noted.

"Peace has meant that the island of Ireland has become a more attractive place to live, to work, and to visit.

"It was clear however that the peace dividend has not been spread evenly. There is a major gap in levels of prosperity between Ireland and Northern Ireland, resulting from low productivity levels in Northern Ireland."

Speaking on the launch report on Tuesday, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Fergus O’Dowd T.D. said: “The report first examines the current economic relationship between the jurisdictions on the island and the potential of an all-island economy.

"The all-island economy is a major success of the Peace Process. Cross-border trade increased from around €2 billion in 1998 to €12 billion in 2022, supporting prosperity across the whole island.

“The report touches on the need for full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of North/South and East/West cooperation regardless of any future constitutional change.

“The Committee heard strong calls for planning to begin for a referendum on constitutional change and calls for the political system to work to build a consensus on what a new and united Ireland would look like. Preparation for referenda on Irish unification will be a historic task. The Committee calls for preparation to begin immediately.

“Our report examines the cost of a potential united Ireland and makes the case for planning and preparation for a united Ireland to begin. We hope to explore other aspects of a united Ireland in subsequent reports.

“Constitutional change would have profound consequences for Ireland and Northern Ireland; voters in referenda will need in-depth information on what the decision would mean for their daily lives, including answers on political institutions, healthcare, taxation, education, social welfare, and pensions. Providing detailed answers to these questions will require immense preparation, which will need to begin well in advance of referenda being called.

“Creation of a constitutional path towards a united Ireland remains integral to the peace process. It is vital that the possibility of a united Ireland is treated with serious consideration and careful preparation. Referenda on a united Ireland could be difficult and divisive unless the Irish Government makes serious efforts to prepare for the possibility of a united Ireland.

“Preparations for the possibility of constitutional change must be underpinned by listening to and understanding and including the perspectives of all communities on this island. Our approach should be guided by the spirit of John Hume who said; ‘Ireland is not a romantic dream; it is not a flag; it is 4.5 million people divided into two powerful traditions. The solution will be found not on the basis of victory for either, but on the basis of agreement and a partnership between both. The real division of Ireland is not a line drawn on the map, but in the minds and hearts of its people.'

“For all of us, this is a challenging topic. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to emphasise that everyone on this island has the right to pursue their ideal future for Northern Ireland, whether they are unionist, nationalist, or do not identify with either tradition. These visions are equally valid and equally deserving of respect.”

Watch LIVE as the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement meets for Report Launch: Perspectives on Constitutional Change: Finance and Economics #SeeForYourselfhttps://t.co/Lwis56azR9 https://t.co/WgQgUqFdTc

— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) July 16, 2024

The report makes a series of recommendations for increased cooperation North South across all areas of the economy and society regardless of future constitutional change. Deeper cooperation should include:

• Education, including measures to facilitate teachers crossing the border or working in both jurisdictions throughout their careers, including supports to meet the Irish language requirement for primary school teachers.
• Further and Higher Education, including reducing barriers to cross-border student enrolment, particularly for students from the North studying in the South, and strengthen North/South co-operation on apprenticeships and training.
• Energy and on climate action, including increased cooperation through Strand two of the Good Friday Agreement that builds on the progress of single electricity market.
• Transport infrastructure, including implementation of government commitments on the A5 as soon as possible.
• Attracting FDI, including closer cooperation between the IDA and Invest NI and part of this should be to ensure greater benefit for areas outside of Dublin and Belfast benefit from FDI.
• Civil service and governance, including developing a North/South exchange programme for civil servants.

The Committee recommends that planning and preparation begin for the possibility of change to constitutional arrangements for the country. A whole-of-government approach is needed, with comprehensive examination of the implications of constitutional change across all Departments and State Agencies, led by the Department of the Taoiseach.

The Committee recommends that the government prepare and publish a Green Paper setting out a vision for a united Ireland. Production of this Green Paper should include consultation, potentially a Forum, open to all political parties, North and South, to ensure the Paper reflects a political consensus on a vision for a united and new Ireland insofar as possible.

Preparation for a united Ireland should include extensive and thoughtful public engagement, North and South, the Committee said. This should draw on best practice from fora for deliberative democracy and civic engagement in recent years such as Citizens’ Assemblies, the National Economic Dialogue, the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit, and the Shared Island Dialogues. Engagement should take place on a sector-by-sector basis. These forums should be as inclusive as possible.

Arrangements should facilitate participation by vulnerable groups and sectors of society that are traditionally underrepresented in policy making. Every effort should be made to ensure public engagement is inclusive of unionist perspectives.