Irish unity ‘way forward’ in addressing North’s economic failure

IRISH unity is the best way to address the current failing economic performance of the North, a gathering in Strabane has heard.

Economy Minister Conor Murphy was speaking to a near capacity audience at the West Tyrone People’s Assembly on the Commission of the Future of Ireland in the Fir Trees Hotel on Tuesday evening.

Hundreds of local people flocked to the event, the first gathering of its kind in Strabane.

It was also attended by former Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams, who, speaking after a panel discussion on Irish unity said that ‘the majority want to see a united Ireland’.

The event was chaired by Michelle Canning, and featured a diverse panel from the worlds of business, education, health and well-being sectors. The panel consisted of Dr Kieran Kennedy current chairperson of 21 Training, Castlederg GP, Brendan O’Hare, director of Regional Engagement at Ulster University, Malachy O’Neill and founder of Little Penny Thoughts, Annette Kelly.

Providing the opening address, Conor Murphy said, “The current fiscal deficit is as a result North’s dependence on Britain’s failed economic framework; a fiscal deficit that can only be addressed by improving the North’s economic performance, which is best done by reunification.

“For many years, the discussion of constitutional change was concerned with how a New Ireland could respect different identities, in particular, the British identity, but it has become increasingly concerned with our shared interests of late… However, since the North is tied Britain’s economic model of low growth and low productivity, the South’s economic performance has surpassed that of the North many times. As a result, unionism can no longer contend that being tied to Britain delivers a strong economy for the North.”

He added, “We need a structured discussion on combining the best of the North and the best of the South; change is happening.”

A surprise attendee was former Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams.

Speaking after the event, Mr Adams said, “This type of discussion shows that people are very interested in being part of the conversation on what a New Ireland will look like.”

On the matter of how to bring the North’s unionists and those in the South reticent to join an all-Ireland to the table, he remarked, “We are doing a lot of outreach with Protestants in the North and are working hard on it; we certainly wouldn’t expect them to just roll over and accept it.

“As for people in the South worried about rising costs as a result of reunification, I don’t buy into that at all.

“Housing, health and other socio-economic issues are at the forefront of people’s minds in the South, but I believe the majority want to see a united Ireland.”