By Professor Colin Harvey for Éire Nua
Something odd is happening to discussions of a united Ireland. You hear it in talk of the Good Friday Agreement and references to a shared island. A subtle attempt to airbrush constitutional change from the picture. Even worse, some think they are different things. Here is the difficulty: Calling for full implementation of the Agreement includes, guess what? A border poll. Work the Agreement, they say – that’s exactly what we’re doing, we say. The compromise at the core of our peace process recognises a fundamental choice: Our collective right to self determination. The same with a shared island. Language from Article 3 Bunreacht na hÉireann, now regularly pitted against reunification. Strange times indeed.
How to respond? One way forward is to play along and promote a separate dialogue about Irish unity.
But why should we do that? An alternative is to reject false and unhelpful divisions: A united Ireland is a shared island, the choice at the heart of everything. Implementing the Agreement and giving us a say about our future, these are the same things.
Don’t make distinctions that are not there. Beyond the words, there are practical consequences.
The Irish government’s Programme for Government drops the modest provision on future constitutional arrangements that was in Fianna Fáil’s own manifesto. A weird omission. A shared island dominates the field. It will attract funding, with initiatives completed, ongoing and planned. Worth watching to see what is supported. And time to insist a bit more assertively that unity not be excluded. If your focus is on governmental action, then the above is sensible.
People are right to insist that the Irish State does more. Planning responsibly for the future of your own country should be a priority for any government. That said, consider how much we have achieved without them. The work of political parties and civil society remains magnificent.
With limited resources genuine progress is being made. That must continue. It will only ever take preparations so far though. Hard also to see Westminster triggering a referendum without the question being posed by the Irish Government. They really must stop walking away. What should be done? Continue to build a broad and inclusive coalition for change. Encourage all political parties working for unity to use the legal and policy tools at their disposal. Take every opportunity to press the case, in Ireland and elsewhere. Try to work together if possible, acknowledging the value of diversity and pluralism. Explore the best case for a new and united Ireland.
Consider substance and messaging. What will work, North and South? The shared island initiative needs to lose its narrow focus and face the future. We’re going to inhabit this space in a new way reasonably soon, get used to thinking about it. We know enough to commence intergovernmental, political and civic negotiations on a timetable. The lack of clarity and ongoing uncertainty are destabilising. And this is where a hardening of position is required. A choice is being denied, there should be polite but firm insistence on establishing the parameters now.
Everyone knows we’re heading towards a border poll. With that in mind, a practical exercise for you. The next time an establishment figure jets in and gets misty eyed about our shared island and our peace agreement, do not forget to remind them: We really want to have our say soon.
Colin Harvey is a Professor in the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast
This article first appeared in the latest issue of Éire Nua. You can download the issue here.
