Support growing for all-Ireland unity, says Adams

Republicans are happy to listen to Unionist arguments about why Northern Ireland should remain in the United Kingdom, but believe that support for Irish unity is growing every day, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams claimed tonight.

Mr Adams, speaking from Philadelphia during a St Patrick’s week tour of the US, welcomed Ulster Unionist leader David Trimble’s call for a referendum next May on Northern Ireland’s constitutional future.

However, he insisted that it should not be held simply as an electoral ploy to boost Ulster Unionist chances in the next Assembly elections also scheduled for next May.

The West Belfast MP said: ‘‘Whatever the timing of a Border poll - and it should not be held simply to aid the Ulster Unionist Party overcome its electoral difficulties - there can be no doubt that the debate on the nature and form and timing of a united Ireland, which I and other Sinn Fein leaders have called for in recent times, is now well under way.

‘‘This is good. Irish Republicans are convinced that Irish unity, in the context of clear legal, constitutional and institutional guarantees to protect the rights and entitlements of every citizen on the basis of equality, offers the best future for all of the people of this island.

‘‘It is also equally apparent that increasing numbers of Unionists accept that a harmonisation of the two economies, of our health, education, environment and justice systems and much more would benefit all citizens.

’’There is also, of course, an imperative, a responsibility on Republicans to spell out to Unionists what sort of united Ireland we seek.’’

Mr Adams said that Republicans needed to look at ways in which the Unionist people could ‘‘find their place’’ in a new Ireland.

This included looking at the possibility of political decentralisation.

He continued: ‘‘We need to look at what they mean by their sense of Britishness and how we accommodate and even embrace that.

’’All of this requires a willingness on our part to explore and be open to new concepts.’’

Mr Adams said that it was in this context that he called on Unionists in a recent speech in Wexford to put forward their own vision of the future and to consider, discuss and engage with Nationalists about the nature and form a new and acceptable United Ireland might take.

He noted that Ulster Unionist Minister Sir Reg Empey had urged the community to mount a counter-offensive to Sinn Fein’s campaign to persuade Unionists to join a united Ireland.

He said this and Mr Trimble’s speech yesterday urging the British government to conduct a Border poll next May would ensure that the debate on Irish unity would ‘‘open up and intensify in the time ahead.’’

However, the Sinn Fein leader said that it was vital that the debate was conducted in a ‘‘friendly, open and constructive’’ manner and he urged Unionists to ensure ‘‘that this debate is not used to foment fear, to encourage Loyalist violence or encourage a reinforcement of the old divisions.

‘‘Republicans are happy to engage with Unionism on their vision for the future.

‘‘We are open to listening to Unionism, about what they believe the union (with Britain) offers its citizens, but I remain convinced that the argument for Irish unity and support for that goal are growing each day.’’