By Judge Michael C. Mentel
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther of Columbus, Ohio will formally present a proclamation to the leaders of the city’s Irish American organizations, expressing support for their efforts in welcoming the recent passage of a resolution by Dáil Éireann. The resolution passed by the Dáil calls upon the Irish Government to take steps toward planning and preparing for the unification of Ireland.
Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Columbus City Council President Pro Tem Rob Dorans will also present a joint Recognition to leaders of the city’s Irish American organizations, expressing their support of the organization’s efforts in welcoming the recent passage of the planning and preparation resolution by Dáil Éireann.
What the Proclamation and Recognition Say
Both the Proclamation and the Recognition make it clear, separately, that the Mayor and both the President of Council and President Pro Tem of Council express their support for the Irish American Organizations of Columbus, Ohio, their members, and all Irish Americans who back the principles outlined in the Good Friday Agreement (the GFA). City leaders voiced their support for the Irish American community’s welcome of the Dáil Éireann’s recent resolution on preparing for Ireland’s unification.
The Proclamation and the Recognition both recognize the key provisions of the GFA. The GFA provisions call for “a democratic and peaceful means to achieve reunification through the provision of unity referendums” that must take place in the north and the Republic.
In May of 1998, a ratification vote on the GFA took place in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The Agreement was ratified in the Republic with 94% of voters supporting its adoption. In the north, ratification was approved by 71% of those voting in favor.
Recent polls across Ireland show that support is growing in the north and the Republic for a referendum vote on unification. As support grows, planning and preparation become necessary for referendum votes that are anticipated to come in the not too distant future.
Irish Unity Resolution Passes in the Dáil Éireann
On October 21, 2025, the Dáil Éireann agreed to a resolution calling upon the Government of Ireland to prepare and plan for Irish unity. The motion was introduced in the Dáil by Sinn Féin with no opposition. All major parties and independents in the Dáil, from conservatives to liberals, including Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Labour Party, Social Democrats, and Aontú, “agreed to” the motion.
Several prominent Deputy Ministers and Deputies, known as “Teachta Dála” (TDs), spoke in the Dáil in support of the motion. Opposition Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, President of Sinn Féin, remarked that “[n]ow is the time to plan and prepare for reunification. There is urgency and continuous progress toward a united Ireland.” Neale Richmond TD, a member of Fine Gael and Minister of State at the Department of foreign Affairs and Trade, emphasized that, “[t]he Government [in coalition with Fianna Fáil] holds an aspiration for a united Ireland in common with the Opposition [parties] and, in the spirit of this debate, I underline the fact that we are not opposing this motion”.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik TD declared that “[w]e support holding … a referendum on unity. We want to see preparatory work under way now… We must ensure that both North and South of the Border, people are clear on what they are voting on.” Sinéad Gibney TD, a member of the Social Democrats, said that “[w]e in the Social Democrats welcome this motion because the work needs to be done. We need to prepare for and implement the suggestions to build that road towards a united Ireland… This is a position and a policy that we support wholeheartedly.”
Brian Stanley TD, an elected independent, stated that, “The Good Friday Agreement provided for national reunification of the territory. It is time we stepped up a gear. Preparations need to begin, and winning support and planning for reunification need to be given a new importance, not just by the Government but by all of us.”
Peadar Tóibín TD, the leader of Aontú, made clear that “Ireland is on the verge of Irish unity. Full independence is within touching distance for this generation… Irish unity is a key pillar for Aontú” Cathal Crowe TD, a member of Fianna Fáil, stated that, “[t]he uniting of all people of this island in a shared state is, beyond all else, the founding value of the Fianna Fáil Party… I wish to state on the record of Dáil Éireann that my bedrock belief has always been and will always be that there should be a united Ireland.”
In all, the parties in Dáil Éireann share a common recognition that planning and preparation are vital to advancing the cause of Irish unity. To achieve this, it is important to actively involve the northern Protestant and Unionist communities, listening to their perspectives on how unification could recognize their traditions and shape their future. It will also call for all-Island representative Citizens’ Assemblies, established by the Government, to allow constructive, informed, and substantive debate on what the planning processes must address. Any plans must be produced and published by the Government in coordination with all essential stakeholders from each tradition. All of these objectives, and more, must be addressed prior to initiating any substantive efforts towards initiating referendums.
City Leaders stand in support of Local Irish American Community
The Mayoral Proclamation and the Recognition are applauded by the Columbus Irish American community. They applauded not only because city leaders have expressed support on a matter of great significance to the Irish American community, but also because these leaders recognized the importance of this issue to the Irish American community as citizens of Columbus.
These leaders did not minimize or disregard the issue as simply the Irish American community requesting city involvement in “foreign policy,” a naive misconception held by certain uninformed individuals. The Proclamation nor the Recognition have anything to do with foreign policy. In fact, the opposite is true. The documents reflect exactly what city leadership should do; support and recognize the citizens and organizations in their community.
The Irish American citizens of Columbus, and the organization which they are members of, are well represented by the city leadership in Columbus. Irish unity is, and has always been, an issue of great importance to Irish Americans. The Mayor, Council President, and Council President Pro Tem of Columbus are to be commended for supporting the Irish American community as they celebrate the Dáil Éireann’s passage of the Irish unity resolution.
Judge Michael C. Mentel is an appellate court judge on the Ohio Court of Appeals for the Tenth District. Notably, he participated in round table discussions at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy concerning the British government’s proposed Legacy Bill and participated in a question-and-answer session at the New York City Bar Association focused on the 1981 hunger strike. Judge Mentel is an author and columnist with iIrish newsmagazine. He has also contributed to other publicationson contemporary legal and political issues facing Ireland.
This article first appeared in the latest issue of iIrish – you can read it here.
