In
the past the idea of a federal republic of Ireland
was considered a purely republican ambition, one
can go back to the early 1970s when Daithi O' Connell
revealed his plan for a federal Ireland. This plan
was generally given credence by loyalist paramilitaries,
but was totally rejected by the so called constitutional
parties of the day namely the SDLP and the Unionist
party. If they had embraced the idea a lot of lives
would have been saved, but because they thought
they knew better the conflict continued, the rest
is history.
Now we have Michael
Gillespie's articles on federalism as if it
is something new and republicans never thought about.
I think he should read Éire Nua. The only
difference been that he proposes that federalism
take place within a united kingdom context and total
recognition of the British culture, this republicans
have always acknowledged from the onset. It is failure
of the British culture to fully accept the existence
of Irish culture as been equal that has proved to
be the stumbling block .
In a federated Ireland unionists would properly
muster up to 30% of the seats in any federal assembly
and senate. In a state or provincial assembly unionist
would also have a majority even within a nine county
Ulster. This would give them a great deal of power
and influence over legislation in a federal Ireland
instead of the less than 1%. they have at present
in the english house of commons, of course unionist
will always point to their close relationship with
the conservatives and the influence they can exert
in times of crises to influence policy in favor
of the union. but this only happens once in a blue
moon, instead as Gregory Campbell stated recently
the electorate would have to accept the ups and
downs of been part of the UK within the E.U and
basically accept their lot with regards to funding,
rather than presenting an unified (United Ireland)
case to justify greater funding and thus representing
their constituency as elected representatives should.
They could represent their constituency more to
what their needs required rather than relying on
political favors from their british masters. In
the E.U for example under a federal Ireland the
north would be entitled to vastly more european
aid than at present.
Of course how a federal Ireland is made up would
be the result of REAL negotiation among the parties
involved (i.e a two state federation or a provincial
federation). A referendum could be held to see if
Ireland should rejoin the commonwealth of nations,
it should be remembered that de Valera was opposed
to leaving the commonwealth in 1946 but because
of the rules that prohibited republics from been
members of the commonwealth, the republic of Ireland
was forced to leave, not until India gained independence
and the rules changed were republics permitted to
remain within the commonwealth of nations.
Not all commonwealth members recognize the crown
as the head of state, nominal or otherwise. So this
should not be and issue. To use the crown as a bribe
for a united Ireland does not fully respect the
ideals of what true independence is about. This
idea that the crown should be nominal head of state
again shows Mr Gillespie's lack of respect of Irish
culture with regards to been treated equal. Ireland
can have close relations with it neighbors across
the Irish sea within the commonwealth of nations
and E.U if the electorate so decide.
I believe that unionists should enter into talks
that will lead them to take a greater role in the
role in Irish politics rather than been a kept culture
at the behest of the english. Whether this leads
to a federal Ireland who knows, but what we need
is some form of united states of Ireland that respects
each culture equally and benefits its people and
communities rather than using religion to gain political
points and inciting sectarianism and then claim
these people are not true unionists like jack boot
unionist do.
