Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomes her party’s report on the ‘Future Of Ireland’
Ireland seems to be in a slow state of flux and the political, social and economic architecture is being examined and discussed at many levels.
Uachtarán Shinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald TD has welcomed the publication today of the annual report of Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland.
You can read the full report here: https://sinnfein.ie
The Sinn Féin President praised the work of the Commission saying: “The conversation on Irish Unity is live, happening in real time with great enthusiasm, and especially amongst our young people.
“It is increasing in intensity despite the British government rejecting the demand that it set out the criteria or a date for the Unity Referendum and the refusal of the Irish government, and in particular of An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, to establish a Citizens’ Assembly or Assemblies to plan for unity.
“In July 2024, the all-party report by the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement concluded that: “Preparation for referenda on Irish unification will be a historic task. The Committee calls for preparation to begin immediately.”
“Successive academic polls and academic research in the last 12 months shows evidence of growing support and an interest in Irish unity.
“In October, a Sinn Féin motion calling on the Irish Government to plan and prepare for Irish Unity was passed by the Dáil and in November in the Seanad. And similar motions are being passed in local Councils North and South.
“In November, Catherine Connolly was elected as Uachtarán na hÉireann. Irish Unity was a major element of her campaign.
“There is an onus on everybody, but particularly on those in political leadership to plan for Ireland’s future. That is a core responsibility of the Irish Government. It is also a responsibility that rests with the British Government.
“The British Secretary of State recently claimed there is “no appetite” for constitutional change. That claim ignores reality. It ignores the depth and breadth of public engagement now happening across society. Change is coming.
“The responsible course of action is to plan for it, prepare for it, and shape it together – openly, inclusively and honestly.
“That is why the work of Sinn Féin’s Commission on the Future of Ireland matters so much. Since 2022, the Commission has created space for honest, inclusive dialogue – gathering hopes, concerns and ideas from every community and every tradition.
“The conversation is growing – not just within republicanism but right across society – Ireland’s Future, the SDLP’s New Ireland Commission, the Shared Island Initiative, Gales le Chéile, Belfast Women’s Assembly and the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Good Friday Agreement.
“People want to talk about the future. The Commission on the Future of Ireland is contributing positively to this process.”
2025 was an exceptionally busy year:
• Nine public events were hosted in Ireland and 1 was hosted at the European Parliament.
• These included the Mid Ulster People’s Assembly, the Belfast Youth Assembly and a Gaeltacht Tionól in Bhaile Ghib. Sectoral events also included One Island, One Environment in Dublin, Rural Communities in a New Ireland at the Balmoral Show, ‘Irish Unity & the EU- What next?’ at the European Parliament, Health & Care in a New Ireland in Belfast, Derry and Fermanagh and ‘Ról Na nGael i dTógáil Éire Nua’ at the Oireachtas na Samhna in Belfast.
• In addition, 13 events were hosted by Friends of Sinn Féin in America and Canada. They took place in New York, Washington, Montreal, Nashville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Ottawa, Toronto, San Francisco, Vancouver, Hartford, Boston and Philadelphia.
Each of the 23 events were hugely successful in engaging with civic society on the issue of Irish Unity. Reports of each event were produced, along with video footage posted on social media.
The Commission on the Future of Ireland was established in 2022. It is chaired by Declan Kearney MLA and Lynn Boylan MEP is the Vice Chair. Its remit is to undertake a grassroots consultation nationally and internationally on the issue of Irish Unity.
Since its establishment the Commission has held:
● 44 Public events
● 100’s of Independent speakers have participated
● Thousands have attended
● There have been hundreds of written contributions
● There has been Protestant/Unionist participation
● Reports and footage of each event have been published
● Events have been held in the USA and more are planned for the USA, Canada and Europe in the New Year.
Further details are available on the Sinn Féin website at:
