2026-06-16

I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for planning and preparation for the possibility of constitutional change on the island of Ireland, in accordance with the right of self-determination of the people of the island of Ireland as recognised by the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999 and as provided for in the Multi-Party Agreement reached at Belfast on the 10th day of April 1998; to require the Taoiseach to prepare and publish a Green Paper; to provide for the convening of a Citizens’ Assembly from within such resources as are available under the Vote for the Department of the Taoiseach; to require periodic reporting to the Houses of the Oireachtas on progress; and to provide for related matters. Ending partition and Irish reunification is the very best idea for the future of Ireland. It presents an immense historic opportunity for our country and our people to realise our potential economically, socially and politically. Unity is the vehicle by which we can achieve full nationhood and build a new 32-county Republic, a Republic where resources are used not to enrich the privileged few but to make life better for working people, for families, for children and for our young people. The unity conversation is under way but conversation alone is not enough. To seize the opportunity of reunification, the Government must step forward and lead. This requires work, planning and preparation. That is what this Bill directs the Government to do, that is, to proactively plan and prepare for the reunification of Ireland and to put this work at the heart of the Oireachtas. The Bill obliges the Government to draft and publish a Green Paper on Irish reunification within 12 months. The Green Paper must cover a range of topics, including public finance, taxation, public services, human rights, governance arrangements and relations between Britain and Ireland. Drafting this Green Paper requires consultation with the broad spectrum of society, civil groups, experts, all political traditions and, of course, unionist and Protestant representatives. Second, the Bill obliges the Government to establish a citizens’ assembly on Irish unity within six months of the publication of the Green Paper. Convened and funded by the Department of An Taoiseach, this will bring together representatives of the people of Ireland from all communities and citizens who have a stake in the future. It would be a forum for real discussion on what a new united Ireland would look like. As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, it is important to acknowledge the scale of transformation in Ireland. More and more people now see that partition has failed communities and Ireland. There are encouraging signs of growing support for Irish unity in successive electoral results, demographic change, contributions from civic society, opinion polling and public commentary. I very much welcome the Fine Gael initiative on Irish unity announced by the Tánaiste at the weekend. However, what we need is a Government initiative on unity. We need work and action. We need ambition and urgency. We need to plan and prepare for unity referendums. It is now two years since the joint committee on the Good Friday Agreement published its major report on constitutional change. This was a positive, exciting, cross-party vision for a united Ireland. It called for a whole-of-government approach to immediately start planning for Irish unity. It recommended that the Government publish a detailed Green Paper and establish citizens' assemblies, and our legislation provides for those very things. Two years is far too long to wait for progress on what is the most important national conversation of our time. It is time to move forward with pace. Treoraíonn Bille Shinn Féin an Rialtas chun pleanáil agus ullmhú le haghaidh Éireann aontaithe trí Pháipéar Uaine a fhoilsiú agus tionól saoránach ar aontacht a bhunú. Is deis ollmhór é an t-athaontú. Is é an smaoineamh is fearr é do thodhchaí na hÉireann. The Bill that we move today is about putting planning for a united Ireland at the top of our agenda. That is what the future demands of us and of the Government. The need to prepare for Irish unity is urgent. The position of “Yes, but not now”, can no longer hold. We can achieve a united Ireland in our time. The Bill obliges the Government to pursue that future with vigour, ambition and determination to complete our journey from peace to unity and nationhood.

Is the Bill being opposed?

No.

Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."