A New Ireland –a discussion in Enniskillen?  – by Joe McVeigh

Last Thursday (22 Feb 2024), I attended an interesting  discussion about Ireland’s future, held in Enniskillen. It was one of a series of meetings organised by the Commission on the Future of Ireland. Uachtarán Shinn Féin, Mary Lou MacDonald was welcomed by local MP Michelle Gildernew.

There were three speakers on the panel – Dr Niall McVeigh, Director of Cavan Institute for further Education, Mairaid Kelly, a local campaigner for small schools and Trevor Birney, former journalist and now film maker -a native of Enniskillen from a unionist background. The proceedings were ably chaired by Noelle McAloon who works with the Enniskillen business community.

Mary Lou McDonald opening proceedings and spoke about the necessity of building a new Ireland. The old one is not good enough. She urged respect for all views. Nobody should be excluded from the discussion about the future of this island. She called on the Dublin government to set up a Citizens Assembly to encourage debate and discussion that would include every party and group on the island of Ireland.. Referring to the cost of Irish re-unification she said there was plenty of money in the 26 counties to cover the expense of the new Ireland – and we should not be put off by those who say that the south could not afford a united Ireland.

Mary Lou stated that if we are going to have a new and reunified Ireland there is an urgent need for citizens to talk about the kind of Ireland we want to create. We do not want an extension of the southern state or a patched up arrangement that does not bring about a more equal and just society. The creation of a new Ireland demands imagination and creativity and much planning. It will be important to engage with people from all political and cultural backgrounds.

Twenty-six years after the Good Friday Agreement, many in Ireland are already talking about and discussing the creation of Irish unity and envisioning a new and sovereign Ireland, a future Ireland that is inclusive, anti-sectarian and about empowering the people and the communities who live on this island. Some argue that such a new constitutional arrangement would have many economic and social advantages. Others do not see that there are advantages.

Niall McVeigh, in a thought-provoking contribution, asked-how do we create a new Ireland where people and communities are empowered and where the abuse of power by any party, individual or church is never again tolerated or acceptable?

If there is going to be a new Ireland we have to create something entirely new. In Gospel -speak “new wine, new wineskins.” You cannot just reconfigure north and south and carry on as before. There needs to be new thinking, imagination and creativity. People with imagination and creativity in all parties or outside all parties need to come forward and contribute fresh ideas to the ongoing conversation about education and work, health care and caring for the environment.

We need to think about the kind of education system that is needed and plan to create one that favours the many –not the few. Education should prepare young people for the work force in a fast changing world where new and different skills are required.

The same goes for creating a different Health service. There needs to be a new all-Ireland Health Service which leaves nobody out because they cannot afford it and offers all citizens the right to immediate medical help in time of need.

Will education in the new Ireland just be a continuation of the present system in the two different parts of Ireland or will we build something entirely new and radical that offers new and wonderful opportunities for all our young people? The same goes for the Health service and for all the various departments of government in a modern democracy.

The new Ireland must be about more than the flag and the National anthem and cross-border trade. It should be about the creation of a society built on respect for the individual and the community, the different cultures and tolerance of difference.

Mairaid Kelly spoke from her experience of saving the Primary school in Fivemiletown, when the community stood firm and demanded their rights. They prevented the planned closure of their school. This showed the importance of local power.

Trevor Birney spoke about his experience of life growing up in Enniskillen where many in his class were expected to join the RUC, the UDR and the British army. There were no alternative opportunities for many young people then.

Many people made contributions from the floor –mostly endorsing what had been said by the speakers on the panel. (I am only touching on some of the points made at the meeting. A full report is to be published later.)

I came away from the meeting realising that I will have to rethink some of my ideas about how we must prepare for and work to create a new Ireland. It is clear we need to think a lot more and talk more about the issues that affect the lives of people on a daily basis –much more than about the national flag and the national anthem.

I think it is most important at this time in our history to have a vision of the kind of society we would like to see in a reunified Ireland and how it will improve the lives of the working class and poor on this island.

We need to work together to bring about the radical change needed to transform this country and this society into a prosperous society for all -not just for the few. That means a lot of discussion, hard work and sacrifice. Sacrifice is always necessary to achieve something new and worthwhile.

I was reminded by some speakers that our focus must be on the children and young people of the future. The new Ireland must ensure that all the children and youth from whatever background enjoy a safer, more prosperous and more fulfilling future in their own country.