UCD ‘Constitutional Futures’ Conference demonstrates appetite to discuss change – Rose Conway-Walsh TD

Speaking after attending this week’s conference titled ‘Ireland, Britain and Europe: constitutional futures after Brexit.’ hosted by University College Dublin, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Rose Conway-Walth said:

“I’d like to commend University College Dublin and in particular Dr Paul Gillespie for holding a very impressive, thoughtful and thorough two day conference.

“The conference examined political relationships within Ireland, within the North of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain, Scotland, Wales and the European Union.

“During the conference the potential for constitutional change was examined through the prism of deliberations, public policy analysis and the appropriate publication of research results.

“The impact of the Good Friday Agreement, Brexit, the demographic changes in the North and the emergence of a non-unionist political majority in the North, were also topics of conversation among panellists and attendees.

“It is very fitting that a section of the conference was dedicated to discussing the impact of these changes on the unionist, Protestant people of the North. It’s vitally important that we all move forward together.

“To that end I want to again ask the Irish government to respond to the growing demands from all corners of the country to expand its involvement in the constitutional debate beyond the Shared Island Unit, which is doing great work. The programme for Government is explicit in promising to “remain steadfast in implementing the Good Friday Agreement in full”. This includes provision for a referendum on Irish Unity for which we must prepare.

“The government should act on the recommendations of the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee and set up a citizens’ assembly or assemblies, and agree to the holding of a referendum on Ireland’s constitutional future.”