Issues which ended last talks remain, says McDonald
SINN Fein has admitted thousands of public sector jobs could be lost in a united Ireland.
An internal party document says reunification will “of course” lead to “efficiencies in public services” as agencies north and south are merged.
The concession that jobs will be lost will be of major concern to around 200,000 people who work in the public sector in Northern Ireland and more than 300,000 such staff in the south.
The draft document — Irish Unity: An Activist’s Guide — has a series of questions and answers under a heading “how to have a conversation about Irish unity”.
One question posed is: “Will a lot of public sector workers lose their jobs if Ireland is re-united?”
The answer reads: “Of course a United Ireland will lead to efficiencies in public services as we will no longer have two separate agencies dealing with each and every task of government.”
The document says that keeping the same flag and anthem are “issues that will have to be debated”. It adds that “emblems and symbols are important, how- SINN Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has called for “credible” political talks to restore power-sharing.
Ms McDonald said the talks collapsed in February after the DUP leadership “walked away from the deal that they had agreed”.
Last week Northern Ireland surpassed Belgium’s milestone for the longest period without an operational government in peacetime.
Ms McDonald told a meeting of elected representatives in Co Cavan yesterday that the issues which led to the failure of February’s talks had not gone away.
Ms McDonald said: “Rights and respect
ever we need to be open to new ideas that cater for the two main traditions on the island and we shouldn’t allow these issues to hold back Irish unity”.
On whether or not the Republic can afford reunification, the document claims that a 2015 study by “independent economists and political scientists” found that unity would boost the economy north and south.
It also suggests that with an increase in economic growth are not orange or green issues. The rights afforded to citizens in the rest of Ireland and in Britain should be recognised in the north. The right to marriage equality, to healthcare for women, to the protections of a Language Act and to access to an inquest.”
Ms McDonald said the solution to the impasse was clear, and that a “real power-sharing partnership” needed to be entered into.
“We are up for talks and agreement, but any talks must be credible,” Ms McDonald added. “We cannot have talks for the sake of talking. It must be about delivery.” Document: Mary Lou McDonald
post-unity, the need for any subvention — to replace money from Westminster — “would disappear”.
It described the Good Friday Agreement as the “peaceful and democratic pathway to Irish unity”.
Details of the document emerged as Sinn Fein held a think-in meeting in Cavan where party leader Mary Lou McDonald said: “We need to ensure that it is conducted in an informed and respectful way and we must set out to win it.”