Allister attacks Cowan's 'Softly softly' All-Ireland Agenda
16 April 2008
Extract from a speech by Traditional Unionist MEP Jim Allister at a TUV meeting in Newtownards on 15 April 2008:
“Having cajoled those who once vehemently opposed the Belfast Agreement to now enthusiastically operate it, I suppose it is no surprise that Dublin, in particular, should become more forward in setting out its stall. The comments of Brian Cowan, following his election as Fianna Fail leader, bear useful scrutiny.
He said, “The revolutionary concept that is part of the Good Friday Agreement really is about embarking on a common journey without insisting upon the ultimate destination. That is the change of mindset that modern nationalism and modern unionism have to provide for the people of this country, North and South. We are very willing partners in that enterprise”. I bet they are, because it is the sure route to attainment of their constitutional assertion in Articles 2 and 3 that “it is the entitlement and birthright of every person born in the island of Ireland..to be part of the Irish Nation”(Art 2) and “it is the firm will of the Irish Nation..to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland…”(Art 3). This still offensive Constitution makes it very clear what the only destination can be for this “common journey”.
Thus, just who does Cowan think he’s kidding when he talks about “embarking on a common journey without insisting upon the ultimate destination”? Only a fool sets out on a journey, not knowing where it will lead. He knows the destination perfectly well. It’s a unified Ireland. That is still the constitutional imperative for the Republic.
That’s why within the Belfast Agreement the British Government is pledged to legislate for Irish unity, once the people of Northern Ireland answer positively the only constitutional question which can ever be put to them in a referendum, namely, “Are you yet ready to join the Republic?” – a question which must be put once the Secretary of State believes the answer will be “Yes”.
And how do they hope to get to popping the question? Through implementing the all-Ireland harmonisation which is the body and soul of the Belfast Agreement. Hence the furious pace of north/southery under devolution. Putting in place the all-island economy is key, it being a short step from economic unity to political unity. How do you get a united Ireland? “It’s the economy, stupid!”
In every field we see manifestation of the all-island template – all island initiatives abound, be it education, agriculture, health, tourism, trade, infrastructure, or energy. You name it, there’s an all-island programme.
Day by day the modalities are being put in place to ease us out of the UK and deliver an all-Ireland, remembering that every new socio-economic alignment with the Republic diminishes our reliance on and affinity with the British connection.
So Mr Cowan needn’t talk smugly about a common journey with an unspecified destination. He knows perfectly well where he’s leading us and, sadly, so do those now working the Belfast Agreement, because they once saw it as the Dublin-trundling vehicle which it still undoubtedly is. If their anaysis was right in 1998, and it was, then they are wrong in 2008!
That is why those opposed to Irish unity are still opposed to the Belfast Agreement. And that is why we need TUV, in this and every constituency, to give vigorous voice to traditional unionist principles.”
ENDS
