Léargas

  Tolerating of Differences  For those of us living in the north of Ireland the English Queen Elizabeth has been omnipresent in our lives for a long time.  From our postage stamps, coins and bank notes to the names of our public buildings. In Belfast there are two bridges named after English Queens. The Queens Bridge was opened in 1849 and is named after Victoria. The Queen Elizabeth Bridge is named after the woman who has just died. It was opened in 1966. Interestingly there was a row among unionists in Belfast City Council who wanted to name it after Unionist leader Edward Carson whose statue stands in front of Parliament Buildings at Stormont. There is also Royal Avenue and the Royal Victoria Hospital and countless other thoroughfares named after British Royals. There is Queens University and the Albert Clock named after Victoria’s other half. Royal this and royal that.  Everywhere.  And this is even before we get to the Crown Forces and all their Royal Regiments or Her Maje

  Another British PM closer to Unity Liz Truss is now the leader of the Conservative Party and British Prime Minister.  No real surprise there. She is the fourth leader of the Tories in six years. And as each has tried and failed to reshape Britain to a post Brexit world Tory government policy – especially under Johnson - has shifted further and further to the right.  If Truss’s rhetoric during the election contest is to be believed this trend will increase on her watch. The challenges facing Truss are huge. While some arise from the war in Ukraine most are a consequence of the Brexit referendum in 2016 and of policies she promoted while in government.  The devastating impact of Brexit on the British economy has been enormous. There is a shortage of essential workers in agriculture, in the health service and elsewhere in the British economy. The trade deals with non EU countries that Truss has trumpeted as compensating for Brexit have had little effect. The NHS is unable to meet

The Belfast Peoples Assembly Hardly a week passes now without politicians, bloggers and columnists writing about Irish unity and calling on the Dublin government to establish a Citizens’ Assembly to plan constitutional change. The number of books and informed academic publications examining and supporting constitutional change have also dramatically increased.   Under the banner ‘Together We Can’ Ireland’s Future is busy promoting their major conference in the 3 Arena in Dublin on 1 October. Their impressive line-up includes political and community leaders, artists, and international guests. The group also plans to launch a ‘vision document’ setting out their view of the future.   Last summer Sinn Féin announced the setting up of a ‘Commission on the Future of Ireland.’ The Commission is a unique and ambitious initiative which includes a series of Peoples’ Assemblies under the broad slogan - ‘The New Ireland is for Everyone – Have Your Say.’   On 12 October - the inaugura