SDLP to push for united Ireland referendum

The nationalist SDLP will seek a referendum on a united Ireland within the lifetime of the next Assembly, the party vowed today.

Mark Durkan’s party said in its 33-page Northern Ireland Assembly Election manifesto it would press for a date for a referendum in the forthcoming review of the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr Durkan said the SDLP was “a progressive social democratic party” determined to tackle “conflict, division and poverty” and “deliver peace, equality and justice“.

In a foreword to the document launched in Belfast today, he said: “As a positively nationalist party, we make clear our commitment to achieving a united Ireland in which the key features, rights and protections of the Agreement will endure.”

The SDLP vowed to:

:: Campaign vigorously for a Yes vote in a referendum on Irish unity, engaging with the unionist community to persuade them of its merits.

:: Expand and develop north-south co-operation across all government departments as well as an all-Ireland strategy for tackling racism, an all-Ireland charter of rights and effective incitement to hatred laws.

:: Resist in the review of the Good Friday Agreement any attempts to renegotiate it. The party will also propose a duty of service on parties to fully participate in and operate the power-sharing executive and North-South Ministerial Council, preventing the blocking of nominations to cross border meetings.

:: Argue for the transfer of policing and justice powers to one department at Stormont within two years.

:: Oppose efforts to put MI5 in the lead in intelligence gathering and insist it must remain in the police where it can be scrutinised.

:: Defend 50:50 recruitment quotas for Catholics and Protestants joining the police.

:: End the use of plastic bullets.

:: Create an all-Ireland Criminal Assets Bureau and compile an all-Ireland sex offenders register.

:: Ensure every police district has a strategy to deal with sectarian crime.

:: Involve trade unions, businesses and the voluntary sector in a social partnership with the Executive agreeing a five-year programme for government.

:: Use the Review of Public Adminstration to make government more responsive, accountable, decentralised from Belfast, efficient and transparent.

:: Create a fairer rates system based on ability to pay.

:: Secure the further release of military bases redeploying the funds into frontline services.

:: Use the new borrowing power under the Reform and Reinvestment Initiative to improve infrastructure and establish “not for profit” models for investment in public services.

:: Create a new Enterprise Growth Fund providing loans and equity to business start-ups and promote social economy enterprises.

:: Support business growth through tax and rate relief on an offset basis against spending on research and development, training and marketing.

:: Campaign for Northern Ireland’s entry to the euro.

:: Target funds at the areas of greatest need in the health service.

:: Improve rural access to services, investing in acute hospital services in Omagh.

:: Support free nursing and personal care for the elderly.

:: Free 10% to 15% of beds currently blocked in the health service; support for carers.

:: Create a new all-Ireland transport and infrastructure body to develop air and sea ports and economic corridors.

:: Oppose privatisation of the water service, domestic metering and charges.

:: Fully implement the Homelessness Strategy.

:: Eradicate fuel poverty, releasing funds for the replacement of Economy 7 heating systems.

:: End the 11-plus and academic selection with the introduction of all-ability, co-educational schooling based on parental choice.

:: Replace A-Levels with a broader post-16 curriculum.

:: Widen access to education, targeting low income families.

:: Reduce the stigma for adults with literacy and numeracy difficulties and encourage them back into education.

:: Establish a new all-Ireland food marketing body and complete the all-Ireland animal health strategy.

:: Oppose the development of GM crops and support the organic farming sector.

:: Produce a Rural White Paper to promote economic regeneration.

:: Promote a cross-border waste strategy.

:: Introduce a tax on plastic bags.

:: Campaign for the immediate closure of Sellafield.

:: Invest in community sport with a particular emphasis on low income communities.

:: Secure backing for an Olympic-sized swimming pool and an international standard stadium.

:: Establish a Northern Ireland Theatre Company and support the local film industry.

:: Secure coverage throughout the island of RTE television and TG4, with increased funding for Irish medium television.