Sinn Fein launches new island unity campaign

Published Friday, 12 June 2009

Sinn Fein have launched a global campaign to reunify Ireland with the claim that many unionists are open to their plans.

Unionists in Northern Ireland's business community were particularly persuaded about the benefits of an all-island economy, according to senior party member Conor Murphy.

The Stormont Regional Development Minister said its campaign will include Irish diaspora events around the world, with conferences in the US, Australia, England and Scotland.

"I think in many senses, with quite a lot of unionism, the quieter element of unionism that isn't perhaps heard so often, we are pushing at an open door with some of them," he said.

Mr Murphy will head the party's new international campaign along with the party's Donegal senator Pearse Doherty.

They insisted it made economic sense to have a united Ireland.

"At a time like this, given the current economic difficulties, people may ask is this affordable at this stage?" said Mr Murphy.

"I would argue there is more of an impetus in actually trying to sustain the economic future of this island through dismantling things which hinder economic development on the island."

Mr Doherty added: "It makes complete nonsense to have a country of six million people divided, running two different systems, health systems, tourism systems, infrastructure systems, it makes no sense whatsoever."

Party leader Gerry Adams will attend the first gathering in New York tomorrow at which former Beirut hostage Brian Keenan will speak.

Another event will be staged in London in July.

Comments

4 Comments

Déaglán in Carryduff wrote (1,054 days ago):

There are not 1 million protestant/unionists in northern Ireland. Why would it be more important for "the Unionist people" at any rate? Surely everyone's vote is equally valid. Furthermore, there's the democratic issue. People may not like it mentioned, but it is here. There are more nationalists/catholics in the younger age cohorts (>25) than unionist/protestants, who form majorities in older age cohorts. According to the 2001 census 70% of over 75s were from a protestant community backgroud. Whilst 52% of those under 18 were from a catholic community background. People tend to vote along sectarian lines in this part of the world (I'm not saying this in agreement, it is just a fact), so it's only a matter of time. 40 or 50 years maybe. Who knows what the global and local economy will be like by then.

Gary in NI wrote (1,075 days ago):

Hey Gerry, how about asking the people of NI what they want first of all, insted of spreading your out of date rhetoric and propoganda?? Oh yeah, havent you heard the latest news.....the Irish government dont even want a united ireland.....bless them :-)

heather in newtownabbey wrote (1,076 days ago):

no i am sorry mr murphy i am not at all open to your plans ,whether it be by the back door or the front door ,,, yes the economy is in trouble but it is world wide !!! it seems that your agenda is still the same you will stop at nothing to get this ui ,, this is a man made problem caused by greedy bankers and greedy politicians , and bad management in business , oh yes you can go to americia and put your case , for business but when they are granted the funds they ask for , they will do like the greedy people before them ,, promise the world and then take their profits ,, close down their businesses here and go back to where they come from

William Blacker in Bushmills wrote (1,077 days ago):

Is it near "Aprils Fools" day or something? Does Sinn Fein still not understand that they can talk about a sic "United-Ireland" in every country on the planet until pigs fly but in the end it boils down to what the 1 million Unionist/Protestant people want as they must democratically vote in favour of any move towards any sic "united" Ireland. As for a handful of "unionist" ( obviously small "U"), businessmen/women, supporting a united-Ireland, Sinn Fein should be trying to convince the thousands of Northern Ireland Catholics who are quite happy - economically and culturally - to remain party of the UK! This is just Sinn Fein at its best all mirrors and smoke to the fact Northern Ireland is and will remind part of the UK until otherwise decided solely by the residents of Northern Ireland. and more importantly the Unionist people.