Ireland's Future
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IRELAND’S FUTURE An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD Oifig an Taoisigh Tithe an Rialtais Baile Átha Cliath 2 1st November 2019 A Thaoisigh, We write to you as citizens to record our deep concerns about the negative repercussions which Brexit will have for our country, for the Good Friday Agreement and for the peace process. Brexit has changed everything. The constitutional, political, social and economic status quo on the island of Ireland is now in flux. Discussion about the reunification of Ireland has moved centre stage. Many citizens are already involved in formal and informal discussions about this. We believe that a new conversation is now required about our shared future on the island of Ireland. The Government needs to plan for this. A clear majority of people in Ireland, both in this state and in the North, want to remain in the European Union. The majority of citizens in the North voted to remain in the 2016 referendum. This includes many Unionists. In recent years a conversation about Ireland’s future, and the place of Unionists in it, is publicly taking place among Unionists. This is a welcome development. Irish citizens should continue to enjoy the rights which accrue from membership of the European Union, as well as the full protection of the European Court of Justice. It is the responsibility of the Government to ensure that the democratic wishes and rights of Irish citizens are respected and protected, regardless of where they live on the island. Let’s have a discussion on how this can be achieved. We would urge you to start this process, based on the vision of democratic change set out in the Good Friday Agreement. Start planning now. We ask the Government to establish a Citizens Assembly reflecting the views of citizens North and South, or a Forum to discuss the future and achieve maximum consensus on a way forward. Is sinne le mórmheas, IRELAND’S FUTURE An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar TD Oifig an Taoisigh Tithe an Rialtais Baile Átha Cliath 2 1 Samhain 2019 A Thaoisigh, Táimid ag scríobh chugat mar shaoránaigh lenár n-imní ollmhór a léiriú faoi na himpleachtaí diúltacha atá i ndán dár dtír, do Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta agus don phróiseas síochána mar gheall ar an Bhreatimeacht. Tá gach rud athraithe de dheasca an Bhreatimeachta. Tá an status quo in Éirinn ar féithbhogadh maidir le cúrsaí bunreachtúla, polaitiúla, sóisialta agus geilleagair. Tá an plé faoi athaontú na hÉireann anois i lár an aonaigh. Tá cuid mhór saoránach páirteach cheana féin i ndíospóireachtaí foirmeálta agus neamhfhoirmeálta i dtaca leis an ábhar. Creidimid féin go bhfuil comhrá nua anois de dhíth maidir lenár dtodhchaí chomhroinnte ar oileán na hÉireann. Is gá don Rialtas pleanáil a dhéanamh mar gheall air sin. Tá tromlach de mhuintir na hÉireann, sa stát seo agus ó thuaidh, ag iarraidh fanacht san Aontas Eorpach. Sa reifreann in 2016 chaith formhór na ndaoine a vóta chun fanacht. Ina measc siúd bhí roinnt mhaith aontachtóirí. Le blianta beaga anuas, tá plé ar bun i measc aontachtóirí faoi thodhchaí na hÉireann agus faoina ról féin sa todhchaí sin. Cuirtear fáilte roimhe sin. Ba chóir go leanfar leis go mbeidh na cearta a bhaineann le ballraíocht an Aontais Eorpaigh, go mbeidh na cearta sin ag saoránaigh Éireannacha feasta, chomh maith leis na cosaintí a bhaineann leis an Chúirt Bhreithiúnais Eorpach a bheith acu. Tá sé de dhualgas ar an Rialtas a chinntiú go mbeidh meas ar mhianta daonlathacha saoránach Éireannach agus ar a gcearta; agus go ndéanfar sin a chosaint beag beann ar an áit ar an oileán a bhfuil cónaí orthu. Bíodh an comhrá againn faoin dóigh leis sin a bhaint amach. Molaimid duit tús a chur leis an phróiseas sin, bunaithe ar an fhís atá i gComhaontú Aoine an Chéasta maidir le hathrú daonlathach. Cuirtear tús leis an phleanáil anois. Iarraimid ar an Rialtas Tionól Saoránach a bhunú chun tuairimí saoránach thuaidh agus theas a léiriú; sin nó Fóram a bhunú inár féidir an todhchaí a phlé chomh maith leis an dóigh chun an chomhthoil is mó a bhaint amach faoin bhealach chun cinn. Is sinne le mórmheas, ACADEMIA, Donncha O’Connell, Galway John Nee, Donegal Étáin Suibhne Nic Eochach, Leitrim Phill Scraton, Antrim Emeritus Terence McDonough, Galway Margo Gorman, Donegal Alan Hayes, Limerick Patricia Lundy, Antrim Eithne Murphy, Galway Gerard McSorley, Donegal Brian Cross, Limerick Michael Pierse, Antrim Pat Byrne, Galway Ray Giffen, Down Ronan Bennett, London Johanna Devlin Trew, Antrim Micheline Sheehy Skeffington, Galway Tommy Sands, Down James McDonald, London Dr Margaret Ward, Antrim Patrick Mannix, Kerry John Connors, Dublin Alan McMonagle, Longford Prof Paddy Hillyard, Antrim Kevin Flannery, Kerry Cait O’Riordan, Dublin Seamus Shevlin, Louth Bill Rolston, Antrim Claire O’Connor, Kildare Jim Sheridan, Dublin Mary Geraghty, Mayo Véranique Altglas, Antrim Eoin Walsh, Kilkenny Damien Dempsey, Dublin Elaine Gallagher, Meath Eilish Rooney, Antrim Angus Mitchel, Limerick Frances Black, Dublin Jimmy Smyth, Meath Dr Sean Mac Corraidh, Antrim Róisín Ní Chairbhí, Limerick Éilís Ní Duibhne, Dublin Evelyn Conlon, Monaghan Dr Fionntán de Brún, Antrim Ruan O’Donnell, Limerick Lia Mills, Dublin John McArdle, Monaghan Sophia Hillen, Antrim Norah Campbell, Louth Carlo Gébler, Dublin David Marron, Monaghan Dr Antaine Ó Donnaile, Armagh Sarah Campbell, Louth Catherine Dunne, Dublin Shay Black, San Francisco, USA Diarmuid O’Connor, Canada Joseph Bradley, Stirling, Scotland Fintan Vallely, Dublin Michael Black, San Francisco, USA Loranne Vallely, Carlow Jacqueline O’Reilly, Sussex, England Paula Meehan, Dublin Josephine Brogan, San Francisco, USA Crónán Ó Doibhlin, Cork Alan Dalton, Sussex, England Robin Smith, Dublin Oliver McElhone, San Francisco, USA Niall Vallely, Cork Dr Orfhlaith Campbell, Vancouver, Michael O’Brien, Dublin Rose McElhone, San Francisco, USA Alan Titley, Cork Canada Finbar Brady, Dublin Jimmy Carton, Toronto, Canada Feilim Ó hAdmhaill, Cork Colum O’Ruairc, Wicklow Robert Ballagh, Dublin Conor Grimes, Tyrone Déirdre O’Byrne, Cork Matt Diskin, Micheál Ó Doibhlín, Dublin Chris McMullan, Tyrone Colin Harvey, Derry Mick O’Brien, Dublin Paul McCabe, Dublin Philomena Begley, Tyrone Prof Mark McGovern, Derry Danielle McCartan-Quinn, Felim Egan, Dublin Justin McGurk, Tyrone Liam Ó Duibhir, Donegal Pól Mac Stiúbhard, Donal O’Kelly, Dublin Peter Sirr, Waterford Peter Doran, Down Dr Benjamin Dwyer, Dublin Grace Dyas, Dublin Eoin Colfer, Wexford Dr Niall Comer, Down Dr Darragh Flannery, Limerick Brian Teeling, Dublin Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Wicklow Dr John McMahon, Down Jonathon Hannon, Galway Terry McMahon, Dublin Phelim Drew, Wicklow Ailbhe Smyth, Dublin Dr Michael Carley, Dublin Alice Hanratty, Dublin John Treacy, Antrim Eugene McEldowney, Dublin Macola Vonga, Donegal Martin McAndrew, Dublin ARTS Jimmy Hill, Dublin Cormac Lonergan, Dublin James O’Connor, Laois Brian Gordon Sinclair, Alliston, Canada Donal Lunny, Dublin Eamonn Quinn, Louth Liz Gillis, Dublin Tony Devlin, Antrim Brian Hughes, Dublin Mary Black, Dublin Brian Clancy, Tipperary Stephen Rea, Antrim Ciaran Clifford, Dublin Aodhán Ó’Ceallaigh, Waterford Conor Kostick, Dublin Terry George, Antrim Helen Litton, Dublin Ruadhán MacEoin, Dublin Irial Ó’Ceallaigh, Waterford Sean Murray, Antrim Danny O’Reilly, Dublin Áine Uí Cheallaigh, Waterford Cuan Ó Seireadáin, Dublin Brendan J Byrne, Antrim Honor O’Brolchain, Dublin Nessa O’Mahony, Dublin Mark Redmond, Wexford Pearse Elliott, Antrim Celia de Freine, Dublin Cormac Breathnach, Dublin John Dorney, Dublin Brian Ferran, Antrim Niall Gilmartin, Dublin Jack Harte, Dublin Joanne Spain, Dublin Dr Conor Caldwell, Antrim Enda Wylie, Dublin William Sieghart, London Ian Leask, Dublin Michelle Devlin, Antrim Nicholas Dunne, Dublin Liz McKeane, Dublin Jennifer Green, Louth Seamus O Neill, Antrim Sean O’Reilly, Dublin Brendan Berrill, Louth Kevin Tierney, Dublin Neil Martin, Antrim Cathal McCrory, Dublin Pat Murphy, Dublin Maurice Harron, Donegal Donal O’Connor, Antrim Janet McLean, Dublin Brian Heavey, Meath Finbar Ó Brolcháin, Dublin Andy McGibbon, Armagh Caroline O’Sullivan, Dublin Barra Ó Séaghdha, Dublin Patrick Freeman, Cork Brian Vallely, Armagh Dean O’Reilly, Dublin Michael Rooney, Monaghan Ann Largey, Dublin Barry Kerr, Armagh Rory Hearne, Dublin Brian Brody, Dublin John Connolly, Monaghan Seamus McGarvey, Armagh Lorcan Hughes, Dublin Marie O’Connor, Dublin Darren McCann, Dublin Declan McKerr, Armagh Orlagh Reynolds, Dublin Diarmuid De Faoite, Galway Gabriel Rosenstock, Dublin Fiach Moriarty, Carlow Margaretta D’Arcy, Galway Eithne Rosenstock, Dublin Cillian Doyle, Dublin Theo Dorgan, Cork Michael Murphy, Dublin Peadar MacFhlannchada, Galway Croine Magan, Dublin Lelia Doolan, Cork Kevin Higgins, Galway Tim Pat Coogan, Dublin Katherine O’Donnell, Dublin Karan Casey, Cork Dr Eoin Flaherty, Dublin Ronan Browne, Galway Marcel Krueger, Louth Tadhg Hickey, Cork Nancy Cullivan, Galway Aoife Scott, Dublin Prof Mícheál Ó Siochrú, Dublin Gerry Murphy, Cork Caitriona Ní Cassaithe, Dublin Tom Cullivan, Galway Róisín O, Dublin Tina Neylon, Cork Mary Coughlan, Galway Sharon Shannon, Clare Mary McAuliffe, Dublin John Spillane, Cork Ursula Barry, Dublin Patrick Neary, Galway Francis P. Schott, New Jersey, USA Paddy Cullivan, Dublin Niall O’Donoghue, Kerry Ciaran McMenamin, Fermanagh Roisin Boyd, Dublin Dominic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Donegal Prof Michael Cronin, Dublin Vincent Hyland, Kerry Adrian Dunbar, Fermanagh Maighréad Ní Mhaonaigh, Donegal Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Kerry Peter Mossey, Dundee, Scotland Sonia Nic Giolla Easbuig, Donegal BUSINESS Maura Sheehan,