1916 letter: Mark the Centenary with a new Ireland for 2016

The revolutionary progress of the Republic of Ireland has reached crisis point. Welfare provision in Northern Ireland is worryingly inadequate and now David Cameron’s Government has proposed cuts to supports for the disabled. More significantly, the UK referendum on EU membership could undo years of north-south integration.

The time has come for action — after due consultation with First Minister, Arlene Foster, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness — to safeguard the security, health, and happiness not just of those in the care of the Westminster government but of the island as a whole. An almost perfectly inconclusive outcome to the recent election to Dáil Éireann speaks volumes.

Once an Irish flag is raised in Belfast (the green flag of 1642 rather than the Tricolour), the Dáil and Northern Assembly can meet to agree fundamental principles, and appoint a provisional government, in advance of elections, to a new national assembly in May or June.