The Brehon Law Society of New York is an organization composed principally of lawyers, judges, and other law-related personnel. Members include well-respected attorneys, as well as distinguished state and federal judges whose members freely volunteer their time and services to law society projects.
On Tuesday, they released the following statement:
“Fianna Fáil, the political party that has largely dominated Irish politics in the south since the beginning of the State, turns 100 years old this year. Founded with the principal aim of reuniting Ireland, it had leaders who took bold steps that brought about peace on the island of Ireland and thereby helped to create conditions for the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
“The Good Friday Agreement, which was approved by majorities north and south, provides for a border poll on the issue of Irish unity. It has been 28 years since the Good Friday Agreement, and there is growing momentum for that border poll. Political parties such as Sinn Féin and Fine Gael have embraced this movement with their political leaders talking about unity and how to prepare for unity.
“On the other side are Fianna Fáil and the unionist parties. Their leaders share a coldness when it comes to any conversation on unity. Fianna Fáil’s current leader is temporary Taoiseach, Micheál Martin. Followers of Irish politics have long recognized that he is most likely the biggest obstacle to real progress on Irish unity. At a Fianna Fáil meeting this past weekend, he effectively censored any meaningful conversation on unity within the party with a warning to his members that he “goes bananas” when he hears discussion of the border poll.
“Not only does this undercut the founding purpose of the Fianna Fáil party, it ignores the provision of the Good Friday Agreement that provides for a democratic vote on Irish Unity. Fianna Fáil has become a cold house for Irish republicans.”
