Taoiseach reveals initiative on the constitutional future of the island
The Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin is to set up a new "initiative" on the constitutional future of the island of Ireland.
**Taoiseach unveils plan on the constitutional future of the island**
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is set to launch a new "initiative" examining the constitutional future of the island of Ireland.
The move comes as Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil’s coalition partner, prepares to present its plans for a "blueprint" on Irish unity at its ard fheis (annual party conference) in Cork this weekend.
Martin set out the proposal in a private meeting with his Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in Dublin on Tuesday.
According to a policy document produced by Martin at the meeting, the Taoiseach's Futures Study Initiative will "seek to provide an objective, independent knowledge base which can be used to inform specific proposals".
Every political party and activist group will be invited to submit views.
The initiative will also give unionists and loyalists, as well as nationalists, a chance to contribute.
"In this it would provide a good faith opportunity for those outside the nationalist tradition to participate.
"Critically, it would challenge all traditions to move from making general assertions about the future to engaging with hard evidence," the policy paper, seen by BBC News NI, says.
The initiative will examine:
- A single "unitary republic" governed by institutions mainly based in Dublin, fully established within five years of a referendum on a United Ireland, with no devolved government in Northern Ireland
- A United Ireland, or an "all-island state", with a devolved government in Northern Ireland similar to the one currently in place
- The continuation of the present arrangements under the Good Friday Agreement, with no constitutional change
Rather than recommending one option, the initiative will assess the specific effects and requirements of the three main scenarios for the island’s constitutional future.
It will then prepare a report for the Irish government, which will be published.
The group will examine six key areas described as "critical" to the island’s future: constitutional and legal change, economy, health, education, security, symbols and culture.
The initiative will be headed by a chairperson and at least five others, with their work supervised by experts in the relevant fields.
The policy paper says a "dedicated secretariat" should be created in the Department of the Taoiseach for the process, combining public service expertise with outside specialists.
It adds that "nothing" in the initiative "interferes with or seeks to replace current commitments which we have towards active cooperation North/South and Ireland/UK under the Good Friday Agreement."
Fianna Fáil’s parliamentary party is due to hold a separate meeting on the issue in the coming weeks.