Sinn Féin MEP and former IRA prisoner Martina Anderson has told the party ardfheis in Dublin that republicans fought an "incredible war against the British occupation of the six counties" that was an inspiration to other liberation movements throughout the world.
Ms Anderson, who was convicted in England in 1986 on IRA bombing charges, said during a debate on Irish unity that in the centenary of the Rising, republicans had an “historic opportunity” to advance the cause of unification.
“The republican movement fought the most incredible war against the British occupation of the six counties and in so doing became a beacon light of warm inspiration to liberation struggles across the world,” she said.
“The republican project has never been just about votes. Votes alone cannot and could not provide us with a united Ireland of equals.
“Republicans are planning for and preparing for reunification. We are organising our constituencies across Ireland to plan, to strategise and to shape the new Ireland that will emerge,” she said.
‘Political strength’
“We must build upon and deepen the political strength that we have. We must end partition, end duplication, and end the partition of this country that our leaders fought and died for. Derry is as Irish as Kerry,” she added.
“I had a motto all of my adult life - if it is has to be, it’s up to me. That’s why I ended up in jail in England.
“It has to be - and it’s up to we. We are the people that must implement the Proclamation that the volunteers of 1916 fought and died for.”
The MEP said Sinn Féin was in the business of building a new republic, but “not a partitioned, unequal Ireland led by a gombeen establishment that pays lip service to the Easter Rising through gritted teeth”.
“Over 18 years ago the brave peace initiatives led by republicans delivered the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement,” Ms Anderson also told delegates.
Ms Anderson said the 1998 Belfast Agreement was “not a blueprint for utopia” but was “an architecture for all-Ireland government which needs persistent attention”.
MEP Matt Carthy said that a recent report, Modern Irish Unification, carried out by international economists, showed that Ireland’s gross domestic product would grow by €35.6 billion over the first eight years of unity.
Expected benefits
This calculation was based on expected benefits from the removal of trade barriers, the elimination of duplicate administrative and governmental structures, the adoption of a common currency and tax harmonisation.
“Sinn Féin are the only party on this island with the vision, commitment and determination to deliver Irish unity. We are the only party with a viable strategy to deliver Irish unity,” he added.
Mr Carthy said the party’s strategy was devised on five key blocks: building popular support and consensus for unity; developing governmental and non-governmental structures to assist unity; challenging those who favoured the status quo; ensuring the British and Irish governments fully delivered on their commitments; and compelling the Irish Government to publish a green paper on unity.
“The next Irish government must work to deliver a united Ireland. They must turn towards the Proclamation and drive forward practical steps towards delivering that united Ireland for all,” he added.
