Durkan calls for discussions on Irish unity

Published Saturday, 05 September 2009

SDLP Leader Mark Durkan has called on all parties to come together again to discuss the issue of Irish unity.

The Foyle MP said talk around unity must move beyond occasional rhetoric with no real meaning.

Mr Durkan told the annual SDLP Youth Conference in Belfast on Saturday that it was important to create a 21st century vision for integration that is not just about righting wrongs or addressing grievances, but about a sense of destiny and purpose.

"The SDLP is 100% for the Good Friday Agreement. We are also 100% cent for a united Ireland," he said.

"We are the only party that has set out a clear view that addresses how we see Irish unity in the context of the Agreement and how we see the Agreement in the context of Irish unity.

"No other party has done this; no other party has answered this.

"I would call on all nationalist parties to get together and address this issue."

On current political situation in the north, Mr Durkan maintained there is a growing sense of disappointment at the quality of devolved government.

"The SDLP are very clear that devolution in this stage is underachieving and underperforming with too much stroke and not enough strategy. People are being let down," he added.

"The public invested great hope in devolution but instead all we are getting karaoke legislation with a local action.

"But this is not just about criticising Sinn Fein and the DUP.

"In the next week the SDLP will publish a start of term report which points out how little has been achieved."

Comments

10 Comments

Steven - Edinburgh in Edinburgh wrote (989 days ago):

Well Brendan, I never mentioned about how any of my figures affect the people of Edinburgh, and I don't know where you got that from - that xenophobia doesn't fit with the rest of your pro-UK comment. However, I do agree with what you have said otherwise. A survey done last year found that only 50% of Catholics questioned, said they would vote for a united Ireland. The rest generally preferred the UK option. I never suggested that the status-quo should, or would, change - you drew that conclusion. I never made any calculations either, these are census figures from the UK government - they're not mine.

The Impartial Observer in Afar wrote (989 days ago):

Brendan I don't recall the DUP signing up to the GFA, quite the opposite in fact! And given the implosion in the Republic's economy in the last year you would have a very hard time convincing taxpayers in the Republic about taking one subsidy dependent NI let alone the Unionists!

Brendan Soraghan in U.S.A. wrote (990 days ago):

It is high time that the unionists stop this nonsense of been part of something thats only in their minds . They know it and so does everybody else that they would be better of in a United Ireland . Look at the facts they are totally depended on the British Excheguer for their existence . Why did the DUP sign up to the Good Friday Argeement because Tony Blair threatened them that the British could cut their subsidy . The Unionists do not trust the British anymore than Nationalists , So they need to negotiate with the rest of the people of Ireland a fair deal for their people .They could a lot of influence in a new Ireland if they really thought about it

d in CARRICK wrote (990 days ago):

I’m all for a united Ireland, if the Republic want to be British.

Jim in USA wrote (990 days ago):

By sharing power, unionists are negating the reason they insisted on the state being created in the first place. That is why the GFA will never work. Irish unity is an option that should be considered, but of course will not even be discussed by unionists. Being part of the UK means a free ride financially, for the north of Ireland. If the UK government ever decided to pull the plug financially the north would be finished. That's the real fear for unionists.

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