World3 min(s) read
Irish government to create first-ever body to prepare for reunification and United Ireland
The Irish government is reportedly set to announce its first-ever dedicated official body to examine the potential reunification with Northern Ireland, following over 100 years of partition.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin is widely expected to put forward plans for the initiative, which may involve looking into the practicalities and logistics of becoming a united island once more, under a single constitutional arrangement, the Irish Times has reported.
Irish government to create reunification body
The proposed body would be tasked with delving into the different possible futures for Northern Ireland, including full reunification, maintaining its current position within the United Kingdom, and a united Ireland that would preserve many of its existing institutions.
It is understood the organization would operate under the Department of the Taoiseach and commission expert research into three potential scenarios.
These would include creating a single Irish state covering all 32 counties, keeping the current constitutional arrangements in place, or establishing a united Ireland in which Northern Ireland retained its own devolved assembly, government, civil service, public services and police force.
The research would also consider the legal and constitutional challenges involved, alongside the potential economic impact and financial costs of reunification.
Other areas expected to be examined include healthcare, education, security, defence and national symbols, with Martin revealing to The Irish Times that he intends to bring a proposal outlining the first steps of the process to the Cabinet before Christmas.
Historically, Ireland has fallen victim on several occasions to the brutal ways of British colonialism, having remained under British rule for several hundred years before the Irish Free State was established.
Irish Prime Minister speaks out
The Irish Prime Minister also stressed that discussions about the island's constitutional future must involve a range of viewpoints, particularly those of unionists who want Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK.
"They need to have their voice heard," he claimed, adding that unionists should be given the opportunity to take part in the discussions as well.
The move comes against the backdrop of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which sets out the circumstances in which a referendum on Irish reunification must be called.
Under the agreement, the UK government is required to hold a border poll if it appears likely that a majority of voters in Northern Ireland would support joining a united Ireland.
While Northern Ireland was initially composed of a large majority who believed in the union with the United Kingdom, in recent years, there has been a shift in the country, with that majority now leaning towards a reunion with the Republic of Ireland.