Fianna Fail will never succumb to sectarianism or alienate unionism, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern vowed today.
Referring to the party's planned expansion into Northern Ireland, Mr Ahern sought to ease possible unionist concerns by stressing such a move would be based on equality, respect and partnership.
Addressing the annual Wolfe Tone Commemoration at Bodenstown, Co Kildare, the Fianna Fail leader said establishment in the north had been a long-term goal for the party and that peace had now made a 32-county organisation possible.
It comes just weeks after the establishment of a special committee headed up by Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern to devise a strategy for the expansion.
"Today, I want it to be unequivocal, that in whatever move we make in the period ahead, Fianna Fail will never deviate from the responsible and positive role we have played in developing the Irish peace process," Mr Ahern said.
"Fianna Fail will never succumb to the sectarian narrative of Catholic versus Protestant or a narrow nationalism that fails to take account of unionism. "The only future we envisage for our people is a future based on respect and equality and partnership with unionism," he said.
Mr Ahern said that for 80 years the possibility of expanding into Northern Ireland had been ruled out by the party as it did not wish to split the nationalist vote or endanger the peace process.
"But all is now changed," he said. "For the first time in 80 years we can decide to become a 32-county organisation." Each of the party's 3,000 cumann around the state have been asked to hold a special meeting between now and Easter to discuss the historic move.
"Fellow members of Fianna Fail, this is not a move to be taken lightly," Mr Ahern said. "We must advance gradually and strategically. We must understand the complexities and the dangers.
"We must consult widely within our party and externally and only then will we develop a considered and appropriate strategy," he said. Earlier this month, Mr Ahern revealed top Government figures will plot a strategy for the party's expansion into Northern Ireland.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern will head up a high-profile special committee charged with drawing up a timeframe for the historic shift.
Donegal TD Niall Blaney - the nephew of Neil Blaney, the former Dublin cabinet minister sacked during the 1970s arms crisis - is among those appointed to the taskforce, along with the Republic's former Attorney General Rory Brady SC, Junior Minister Brendan Smith TD and Martin Mansergh TD, a key backroom figure in the peace process.
There has been speculation that Fianna Fail might try to cut a deal with the electorally-struggling SDLP to form a pact or merger.
The Northern Strategy Committee will also engage in a public consultation exercise throughout the island inviting submissions on its cross-border expansion.
PA