Hume: 'Talk less about a United Ireland and more about an ‘Agreed Ireland’

After decades of division, violence and sectarian murder commonly known as ‘the troubles’ a new beginning heralded as the Irish and British governments signed the Good Friday/Belfast Agreement in Northern Ireland, on 10th April, 1998, bringing peace talks to an end. 

Now in 2020 it is inconceivable at just how far Ireland as an island has come since the ending of the troubles and the GFA.  But let us not forget that it was one man’s lifetime sacrifice of political determination, long arduous search and persistent quest for a peaceful, political solution in Northern Ireland based on agreement and partnership between the two traditions of unionism and nationalism to achieve this, namely Nobel Peace Laureate and Statesman John Hume.

John Hume is regarded as the principal architect of the 1998 Good Friday/Belfast Agreement, the agreement that has transformed constitutional and institutional arrangements for governing Northern Ireland, and has also restructured relationships with the rest of Ireland, as well as relationships between the whole of Ireland and Britain.

Constant in his view that Irish unification could only be achieved with the consent of the people of Northern Ireland, the stress Hume placed on the aspiration for a united Ireland gave way to recognition of the ‘need to unite people before territory.’   John Hume had a clear modus operandi and political vision regarding bringing a lasting peace, resolving the constitutional issue, and uniting the people of Ireland through only peaceful and democratic means.

John Hume possessed a European foresight and outlook from an early stage; following his election to the European Parliament in 1979 John Hume came to believe that Europe offered a much broader horizon and a political platform on which shared interests could cross the traditional divide between unionism and nationalism. Especially after becoming an MEP in 1979, John Hume looked towards the example of European unity for inspiration and ways to resolve the problems of Northern Ireland.

In Europe there was in fact a degree of cooperation across the political divide with regard to the Common Agricultural Policy and EU cohesion funds where all Irish MEPs, from North and South, nationalist and unionist, tended to be broadly singing of the same hymn sheet.  John Hume clearly had saw European engagement as a means by which Northern Ireland could set aside historical animosities and focus on the promotion of economic development, social justice, human rights and equality of opportunity.

In February 1970, John Hume, then an Independent MP for Foyle said in Belfast that ‘sectarianism was the real border that existed in the North and any proposal he would offer to change the present constitutional framework would be designed to neutralising the effect of sectarianism practiced by any politician or political group.’  John Hume was speaking at a conference held in Belfast organised by the Nationalist Democratic Party to which representatives of various Opposition groups were invited with a view to possible unification. 

John Hume said that every election in the North was fought on the attitudes of people towards the constitution and sectarianism was used as a weapon.  The Government of Ireland Act [1920] made political tolerance almost impossible in that it made people consider the Constitution as a vital issue.  It was therefore John Hume’s firm political belief that it would have to be taken out of the arena.

The aspirations and the ideals of John Hume to an "agreed Ireland" as opposed to a United Ireland command a lot of respect.   The Irish constitution is clear In terms of a United Ireland as the Irish constitution aspires to there being a United Ireland but only on the basis that it is achieved by consent, and when it does come about it needs to also command a degree of cross-community support. 

John Hume talked less about a United Ireland and more about an ‘agreed Ireland’ with a clear set of relationships that people and communities could be comfortable and live with together in a spirit of peace, reconciliation, tolerance and understanding for each community’s background, diversity and identity.

It is well to recall how a peacemaker and statesman of John Hume's immense political calibre integrated a constructive European vision into his political credo with beneficial effects on the search for a lasting peace in Northern Ireland.

In the words of John Hume “Ireland is not a romantic dream; it is not a flag; it is 4.5 million people divided into two powerful traditions. The solution will be found not on the basis of victory for either, but on the basis of agreement and a partnership between both. The real division of Ireland is not a line drawn on the map but in the minds and hearts of its people.”

There the fundamental key point is that all questions regarding a border poll and Irish Unity must be properly answered in advance of a plebiscite.

END

To hell with the consequences regarding the North, the Backstop, power-sharing and the Good Friday Agreement

To hell with the consequences regarding the North, the Backstop, power-sharing and the Good Friday Agreement

It is deeply frustrating and regrettable that the people of the North of Ireland are still being held to ransom by Dick Turpin highwaymen like politicians and continually waiting now over two years for a power-sharing executive and devolved assembly to be reinstated at Stormont

Then at Hillsborough Castle we have the PM’s appointed Secretary of State & MP Karen Bradley lodging in the Queen’s private quarters and seemingly doing little or nothing to earn her keep except polishing the brass at Parliament Buildings. 

Meanwhile at Westminster no doubt to the dismay of many within the Conservative/Tory party the DUP are milking the British Exchequer for every penny including parliamentary expenses apparently for the good people of Northern Ireland.  Yet for some reason neither the British Government or their coalition partners the DUP seem at all remotely concerned or perturbed at how the optics now look to the public or the people of the North and beyond that we are still without a devolved government.

Irrespective of the UK Government dealing with Brexit issues and the EU what is and seems totally incredulous is that at Westminster and Stormont some of these elected parliamentarians are now seemingly quite happy and well adapted to the lights only being on.  Pity then the civil servants who are valiantly trying to run ministerial departments with the ministerial in trays and inboxes now replete with numerous administrative paperwork and emails needing to be addressed.

Whilst I applaud the current Irish Government and all those concerned parties in trying to seek agreement and a new way ahead to break the impasses currently at Stormont between the DUP and Sinn Fein it is now clear that there is no political good will or incentive for these parties to park their differences for the good of the people.

Whatever your opinion was or still is on former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Prime Minister Tony Blair they both put the GFA and the institutions enshrined within the international treaty document as their top priority.  No matter what the political turmoil or crisis issue of the day both these politicians ensured that Northern Ireland & the GFA remained on their radar screen.

Yet nearly 21 years on from the signing of the GFA we currently have a coterie of political leaders who are totally obtuse to their political responsibilities in delivering a power sharing government for the good of the people. 

In 2019 it now seems for some of these same political lame leaders that it will remain party over peace as the greater prize they seek and to hell with the consequences regarding the North, the Backstop, power-sharing and the Good Friday Agreement.

Lack of Political Leadership is sadly playing with People’s Lives

Lack of Political Leadership is sadly playing with People’s Lives

“I would like to commend all Councillors who recently supported a notice of motion which was unanimously passed by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to support calls for the Department of Health to develop and address the need for suicide prevention centres in Northern Ireland.”



 “Therefore the decision by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to also now write to the Department of Health Permanent Secretary, Richard Pengelly, urging for the creation of a strategy that will support those with mental health issues by providing the services they need must be of the utmost priority regarding the implementation of a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan.” 



“Regrettably the levels of suicide across both the Council district and the North as a whole do not paint a pleasant picture nor seem to be abating. Suicide seems to be all too prevalent, too common a word used and sadly an occurrence within our local communities and society in general with no barriers against age, sex, creed or race.”



 “Yet to date it is been largely and predominantly left to charitable, community and voluntary organisations within our District who are providing essential lifesaving services, counselling, help and support to many people who are either vulnerable, suicidal, suffering mental health illness and or addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, as well as both prescription and non-prescription medication.”


“The people who know or avail of the tremendous suicide prevention and mental health awareness services provided by organisations including, MYMY, PIPS and Life Changes Change Life are the lucky ones. But what about those people who have unfortunately slipped through the net and have died through suicide? This question seems to remain largely unanswered by the Department of Health and the paralysed Stormont Executive which is still fourteen months on in a state of paralysis.”



“In June 2016 as a Councillor I brought a notice of motion before Newry, Mourne & Down District Council to write to the offices of the First and Deputy First Minister calling on the Northern Ireland Executive to now urgently prioritise and address mental health and mental well-being as one of the most important health issues currently affecting people of all ages in Northern Ireland.”



 “The notice of motion also urged the Northern Ireland Executive to dedicate more resources and funding in conjunction with developing a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan with all major stakeholders including the community, voluntary, and private sector and Ministerial Government departments which can help address and tackle those affected with mental health problems across Northern Ireland.” (06/06/2016 NMD Council minutes reference C/125/2016).



 “I specifically brought this notice of motion to Council due to both the ongoing suicides and also the lack of any other coherent strategy which was specifically addressing the issues of mental health illness being associated and intertwined with suicide.”



“However due to the collapse of the Stormont executive back in January 2017 a formal written response to this notice of motion was not finally signed off until 1st March 2017 from the Director of the Executive Office to me.”



 “The letter I received merely cited that there was extensive consultation and stakeholder engagement conducted on the draft proposals contained in the draft Programme for Government throughout 2016, but it would be for the incoming administration to consider and agree a new Programme for Government.”



“Therefore without a Stormont Executive together with a five year Programme for Government, which would include a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan or a Health Minister in place to continue to increase suicide prevention funding for people with mental health illnesses or who may be suicidal are being wrongly denied the proper access to mental health services.”



 “To be perfectly blunt the Department of Health is haemorrhaging regarding mental health services and suicide. I speak as someone who has lost a younger sibling back in 2001 and over the years lost friends through suicide, so I know personally at first hand the total devastation and void this leaves in many families who have been affected by suicide.”



 “There is now a moral responsibility and onus by all political parties to the general public of the North regarding the restoration of Stormont with a fully functioning Executive and a new Health Minister to help pave the way for the full implementation of a mental health and mental wellbeing strategy plan.”



 “There also needs to be year on year increased financial funding and a dual track approach by the Department of Health to also help and assist those organisations providing essential life-saving suicide prevention and mental health support to people seeking their help. Without all of this input as well as the lack of political leadership is sadly playing with people’s lives.”



 End 08/03/2018