.jpg)
Martin McGuinness, Mary Lou McDonald, Tom Arnold, Chairperson of the Constitutional Convention and mise
Saturday saw
the inaugural meeting of the Constitutional Convention. 100 delegates from
political parties and randomly selected citizens have come together for the
next year to discuss and make recommendations on changing the constitution on 8
specific areas, including reducing the Presidential term of office
to five years; reducing the voting age to 17; giving
citizens resident outside the State the right to vote in Presidential elections
at Irish embassies, or otherwise; provision for same-sex
marriage, and following completion of the above reports, to
make other relevant constitutional amendments they may feel appropriate.
Unionist parties who were invited to
participate have declined the invitation. However, the SDLP, the Alliance and
the Green Party from the north are taking part.
Martin
McGuinness and Mary Lou McDonald and I are the three representatives from Sinn
Féin. Addressing the Convention I said that even “though Sinn Féin is
disappointed at the way the government has limited this initiative I want to
commend the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste for proceeding with it and give them
fraternal notice of our intent to work with all delegates to achieve the fullest
potential of this Convention.
Sinn Féin
welcomes especially the adjustments at our request to the process which include
the requirement that the Convention give ‘appropriate regard’ to the terms of
the Good Friday Agreement.
Cuirim fáilte
romhaibh uilig anseo inniu chuig an chead chruinniú den Tionol Bunreachtúil
Buíochas
fosta don Justice Ó Hógáin, an tOllamh Dermot Keogh, an tOllamh David Farrell
agus an Dochtúir Jane Suiter as a gcuid ionchur.
I want to
commend all the participants.
I remain
hopeful that the unionist parties will yet see the value of taking part.
We should
continue to try and persuade them to participate.
And to those
citizens who have agreed to embark on this extraordinary journey on behalf of
their fellow citizens - Buíochas mór libh.
Tá sibh ag
tabhairt faoi chúram agus freagracht an-mhór.
Sinn Féin
welcomed the proposal to convene the Convention.
The 1937
Constitution was written in the aftermath of partition, a bloody civil war and
in the context of a very different society.
It was for a
state newly emerging from British colonization.
Centuries of
foreign domination had almost destroyed the Irish language and culture.
Seven
million of our citizens had fled overseas.
British
policy ensured that the vast majority of citizens were impoverished and except
for agriculture and the Lagan basin, most of the island had little industrial
infrastructure.
The conflict
in the north and the peace process, the enormous economic changes of recent
decades, the revelations of child abuse, the diminished influence of the
Catholic Hierarchy, and the disclosure of corruption in the golden circles and
in politics, have also dramatically and fundamentally changed societal
attitudes.
75 years after
the 1937 Constitution was produced, and though Ireland is still partitioned,
the Good Friday Agreement has created a new all-Ireland dynamic, all-Ireland
institutions, and a new political and constitutional imperative.
Last week the Good Friday Agreement Committee, including representatives from all of the Oireachtas parties and independents, travelled to East Belfast and met with community and political leaders from loyalist working class areas.
On Wednesday
another delegation of Oireachtas members visited Maghaberry prison.
Unionist
leaders regularly visit Dublin.
Co-operation
across this island is now commonplace.
But in the
days of austerity and Troika governance citizens are asking where are our
rights?
They are
asking for more accountability.
More
transparency.
They want equality.
Neither gender
or race, age or disability, sexual orientation or class, or creed or skin
colour or location should be used to deny citizens their full rights and
entitlements.
The right to
a job; to a home; to a decent standard of education and health, and to equality
in all matters including the Irish language should be enshrined in our constitution
and evident in the lives all our people.
Sinn Féin is
for a constitution which reaches out to our neighbours and the children of the
diaspora scattered around the globe.
Why can’t
Irish passport holders in the north or the USA or Canada or Australia vote in
Presidential elections?
Sinn Féin is
for a constitution that also embraces all of the citizens of this island
especially those who feel themselves to be British.
A
constitution which builds reconciliation between Orange and Green.
A
constitution that is part of shaping a new Republic for the 21st century and
whick draws on best international practice.
A Republic
that is democratic and inclusive and based on equality, freedom and social
solidarity.
A Republic
that shares its wealth more equitably, looks after its’ aged and young, provides
full rights for people with disabilities, liberates women, and delivers the
highest standards of public services.
The
constitution of a real Republic must reflect these core values.
These are
not new concepts.
Take up the
Proclamation and read it.
Read too the
Democratic Programme of the First Dáil.
These
visionary documents contain great words.
Pursuing the
happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and all its parts; guaranteeing
civil and religious liberty, and equal rights and equal opportunities; and
cherishing all the children of the nation equally.
And making
provision for the well-being of children, so that ‘no child shall suffer hunger
or cold from lack of food, clothing or shelter.’
These are
words that speak to us today in a society where children and adults go hungry; half
a million citizens are out of work, and emigration is thriving.
This Constitutional
Convention is an opportunity to re-imagine Ireland.
To think
nationally; in the real meaning of that word.
As an Irish
citizen from the north I find the use of the term ‘national’ offensive when it
is really being applied improperly and solely to this state.
So, let’s
think beyond partition.
Let’s think
of the citizens of Antrim and Down, Armagh, Derry, Fermanagh and Tyrone, as
well as our other 26 counties - and our off-shore islands.
Let’s
re-imagine the Ireland of the 21st century as a place where conflict and
violence are in the past.
This
Convention needs to think big and be prepared to act big.
Demand more
time for your deliberations; open the agenda up; ensure that the Convention travels
into and meet citizens from rural Ireland and the border corridor and the
Gaeltacht areas and the north.
Why don’t we
invite representatives from the Travelling Community to present their rightful
claim to be treated as an ethnic minority?
Why should
the Diaspora be limited to ‘conference calls’?
Why don’t we
open up dialogue with unionism at community and civic level as well as
political level?
And most
importantly ensure that the Constitutional Convention is open and transparent
and builds public confidence in it.
Is obair
thromchúiseach tabhairt faoi phroiséis leasú bunreachtúil
Leasú a
láidreoidh athmhuintearas, síochán agus rathúnas ar oileán na hÉireann agus
idir ár gcuid daoine.
There is the
potential to create a new Republic.
Theobald
Wolfe Tone captured the spirit of this when he wrote of “a cordial union among
all the people of Ireland, to maintain that balance which is essential to the
preservation of our liberties and the extension of our commerce.”
Dublin
Castle where we meet today used to be the centre of British power in Ireland.
It was here
that James Connolly was held before being executed.
Go to the
room where he was incarcerated and ponder on the mission we are embarking on
today.
We know that
citizens of this island deserve better than the society we have inherited.
Ireland
north and south is changing.
We are an
island people in transition.
For that we
need a new Republic - a new constitution - that reflects our genius and
diversity, our dignity and our strengths – a constitution that is inclusive and
visionary.
A
Constitution that belongs to all.
Go raibh
maith agaibh.
Comments