Sinn Féin urges unity 'as soon as possible'

A united Ireland should be created as soon as is humanly possible, it was claimed today.

Sinn Féin launched details of a Dáil parliament motion calling on the Irish Government to publish a Green Paper discussion document on the issue.

The party’s Dáil leader, Caoimhghin O Caolain, called on Irish political parties to unite behind the idea to make it a reality.

“People are talking about the symbolism of a united Ireland for the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising in 2016 but I believe it should be achieved as soon as humanly possible. I hope to see it in my lifetime,” he said today.

“The political situation has changed enormously and there will also be huge changes in the decade before us.”

The motion, published today, calls for the promotion of all-Ireland policies and strategies and highlights the need to persuade unionists on the advantages of unification.

It also says the Government must “prepare politically, economically, socially and culturally for Irish unification; identifying measures, including a Green Paper, which can assist a successful transition to a united Ireland”.

Calling for all-party support, Mr O Caolain pointed out that Fianna Fáil is known as the republican party and Fine Gael described itself as “the United Ireland Party” when it was first founded in 1933.

The motion will be debated tomorrow evening and conclude on Thursday evening during the party’s Private Members’ time.

Mr O Caolain, who is into his ninth year as an Opposition TD, also told a media briefing today that it was inevitable that Sinn Féin would enter government soon and that its TDs would become ministers.

“At some point in time, that is a nettle that Sinn Féin will have to grasp.

“If Sinn Féin is to go from effective presentation of its policies to effective implementation, we will need to go into government at some point.”

However, he said the party would absolutely rule out any alliance with the Irish Government’s harshest critic, Justice Minister Michael McDowell, or his Progressive Democrats party.

Mr O Caolain claimed that Sinn Féin will win seats in eight constituencies in the next General Election, including Donegal North East, Donegal South West, Meath West, Wexford, Waterford, and Cork North Central.

The party is also targeting seat gains in two Dublin constituencies which have not yet been confirmed.

The leadership would convene a special Ard Fheis to consider entering a coalition with other parties if the issue arose.

Mr O Caolain also did not rule out increasing tax rates if it led to better public services.

“Ordinary people out there are not opposed to paying more tax as long as everybody is paying their fair share, in a wholly equitable system.

“People might say that if they pay a little bit more taxation, they could have a better health service.”

The Cavan/Monaghan representative denied Opposition claims that the issue of speaking rights for Northern MPs in the Dáil was a “side deal” cut between Sinn Fein and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.

“All we’re arguing for is the right for MPs to actively participate in debates in the Dáil chamber on issues that affect them or they have specialist knowledge of. I do believe it should happen.

“It would promote positive engagement and dialogue between north and south politicians and would demonstrate the type of society we are trying to create on this island.”

He said Sinn Féin also advocated voting rights but he accepted that this was not a realistic short-term goal.