All-Ireland fusion is underway - Allister
08 December 2007
Speaking at the launch of another Branch of Traditional Unionist Voice in Newtownards, Jim Allister MEP said under devolution we have seen a dramatic escalation in north/southery, which itself demonstrated the dynamic and purpose of the Belfast Agreement.
In the course of his remarks Mr Allister said:-
“One of the cons perfected on the unionist electorate was that if we didn’t take the devolution on offer, we’d be overwhelmed by all-Ireland developments. In fact under this devolution we’ve experienced unparalleled all-Ireland promotion. Our infrastructure, our energy, our economy are now all orientated far more on an all-island basis than ever before. Sinn Fein Ministers are driving through their all-Ireland agenda with apparent impunity. Gildernew’s every thought is of all-Ireland agriculture, Murphy’s priority is cross-border, all-Ireland infrastructure and this week we saw that what really motivates Ruane, in her dismantling of our prized education system, is the alignment of our system with that prevailing in the Republic.
Some seem not to have noticed but what Ruane is seeking to do is secure an all-island approach where transfer occurs at 14 with no academic selection. This is the essence of her approach; it’s no coincidence that it matches what prevails south of the border and, of course, already she is proposing free movement of pupils north and south.
Step by step that which separates and distinguishes us from the Republic is being diluted. Even in energy we are to be an island unit. When first envisaged it was packaged as north-south and east-west, of late the focus is primarly north-south.
No one should be surprised to see this unfold under the implementation of the Belfast Agreement, because its ethos, purpose and method is to build unification by stages. It’s premised upon it being a short step from economic fusion to political fusion. Hence the plausible pitch of ever-closer ties for mutual benefit, to be followed in due course, by the contention that to make it all work better we need matching political structures. This is exactly how the EU has evolved to the point where now high level political structures (the Constitution) are being introduced to give “better efficiency”.
If anyone is in any doubt that this is the intended projectory of the Belfast Agreement, they need only look at the reality that the only referendum Northern Ireland is ever again to be permitted is one asking if we wish to join the Republic. Under the legislation when the Secretary of State thinks there is a prospect of a “yes” vote he must put the question and then every 7 years thereafter! So it’s very clear what the intended long-term outcome of the Belfast Agreement is.
Sadly, those that used to see this are now working the very Agreement they so denounced. Yet, another reason why we need Traditional Unionist Voice.”
