Recently, I was challenged by a friend to concentrate more on the future than on the past. So here is a first response to that challenge.
The Good Friday Agreement in 1998 offered all the citizens of this country a way out of the violent system established by Partition in 1920. It offers the possibility of creating a new Ireland based on equality and democratic principles. It proposes that a Border poll be held when a Secretary of State thinks there is a real possibility of it being carried and becoming law. That scenario raises a number of questions but it is recognition that the Partition settlement was a failure and needs to be replaced by a democratic system of government on the island of Ireland that recognises the sovereignty of the Irish nation and the fundamental right to national self-determination.
Since the Good Friday Agreement the political landscape has been transformed. There is now a Sinn Fein First Minister in Stormont which was once a Unionist stronghold. This would have been unthinkable in 1998 when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. Sinn Fein is also growing in strength in the 26 counties. The party now aspires to be in government in Dublin. Unionism is now in need of new leadership and a new direction in accordance with the new political realities.
Many people –Unionists as well as Nationalists and Republicans – have been outlining what a new Ireland should look like. It is generally agreed that representatives from the Orange and Green traditions would be involved in creating a completely new society where each person and each tradition is valued and treated with respect, where there would be no second class citizens. A new constitution would protect all citizens and allow for the peaceful transition to a new political system.
A new Ireland would be based on an all-island economy. There would be one Health service for the island –paying special attention to mental health and the issue of Addiction. Much could be learned from a country like Cuba about how we could provide a first class health service for all citizens and not just for the few.
There would be one education system paying attention to the new Digital world we are now living in. It will be an education system designed to cater for the needs of all –not just the few. It will prepare people so that they can make a valuable contribution to society and to the economy.
This new economy would provide the most modern education opportunities to meet the needs of the people in the new 5th Industrial age. We live in a rapidly changing world where traditional jobs in Business, banking, supermarkets and even in hospitals are becoming redundant. Artificial Intelligence (AI) will change the world of work. Automation will replace much of the more difficult kinds of work. As an example AI is already replacing the work of surgeons in the most intricate kinds of surgery.
The new economy would seek to create employment in technology and home industries. While there is no stopping the transformation now taking place as a result of technology, it is important that we balance the technological with the human. Online shopping seems to be the way of the future. Bank cards will become obsolete as payment for goods will be automatically subtracted from personal accounts. Integrating humans and technology is the challenge facing all involved in creating the new Ireland. Humans will always take precedence and can never be replaced by technology. The harmonisation of the digital world and the human world is a task for all concerned with creating a new Ireland.
There would be the development of an all-island Tourism industry which would offer locals and visitors the best opportunities and facilities available at affordable rates.
The foundation for a new all Ireland economy has already been put in place since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and the re-opening of the Border to free travel within Ireland. There needs to be a more coherent policy and more connection of all services and travel networks throughout the island taking account of the concerns about the environment and Climate change.
It is important that people continue to produce ideas and strategies for the new Ireland. I welcome the contribution of Kevin Meagher on Jude Collins blog site (18thAugust 2024) outlining how a Border poll should be conducted. (‘There’s no need to set out border poll criteria’)
A new political all -island system of government will replace the unjust partition of this country and reverse the basic injustice that brought about such deep division, deprivation and discrimination.
We must build a new tolerant and open society that welcomes immigrants and encourages diversity. It will require creativity to build the new Ireland of equals which treasures the Irish language and Irish culture. Given the history of success in so many fields -music and sport come to mind- it is obvious there is no scarcity of talent here to build the new Ireland where people of different traditions will be encouraged to work together for the common good. The work of building the new Ireland has already begun. A border poll will be part of that process. The Dublin government has a special responsibility to prepare for that. So far they have not shown much commitment to bringing it about.
So if it’s that easy to create such a utopian society that you’ve outlined here, why can’t the countries that the immigrants are coming from not do the same? Why should Ireland be expected to do all the hard work?
Those who tout the idea that there is a desire for a united Ireland, because the Clonoe fast talker is joint first minister, need to realised that out of a 1.3 million electorate, less than 25% of that electorate voted for parties supporting a united Ireland. They need to get real and stop the propaganda. There’s no desire for a united Ireland, old or new and that will continue beyond our lifetimes and hopefully for ever.