Irish Unity The Solution To Brexit

Posted by Jim on September 2, 2019

lWith the British state set to prorogue its parliament, to force through a ‘no deal’ Brexit, Sean Bresnahan argues that Republicans must be better positioned, advancing, thus, his longstanding argument for the election of a constituent assembly.

The continuing Brexit crisis in Britain — its tearing at the fabric of the British Constitution — is to be welcomed by those who hold as their object the constitution of a 32-county republic. For Irish Unity is, of course, the natural solution to Britain’s Brexit conundrum — and with it to the pending impact that a ‘no deal’ Brexit will have on Ireland.

In these tumultuous times now before us — with political change now a real possibility — we must prepare, and be better prepared, for the event of change and must have our ducks in a row. We cannot afford to be found wanting, in this moment, and must grasp and seize the initiative. In this moment of historic import, we must present and position the Republic front and centre. In the words of the great James Connolly, it must be made a word to conjure with.

Should we manage to achieve Irish Unity, or agreement towards such being effected, we must move speedily to the election of a 32-county constituent assembly — to the drafting, there, of a new constitution for an independent 32-county republic. A charter of fundamental rights should likewise here be set towards. The outcome of this deliberation — the political arrangements there set towards — can then be put to the Irish people by national referendum.
In an Irish Unity scenario, we must work to ensure that the future is forged by the Irish people alone — inclusive of our differing identities and traditions but with no role for Britain to be granted, come this process. In the context of movement towards Irish Unity, the only forward role for Britain can be to leave Ireland entirely — as she ought to have done long ago.

Sean Bresnahan, Chair, Thomas Ashe Society Omagh