ÉIRE NUA: the alternative to the Stormont Agreement

RUAIRÍ Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin replies to Denis Bradley’s recent Irish News column on ÉIRE NUA:

The action of Denis Bradley in engaging in debate on ÉIRE NUA is appreciated. He is, however, gravely mistaken on several counts and I seek to clarify the various issues raised by him in the Irish News ‘Tuesday Column’ of August 22 last.

The ÉIRE NUA idea emerged during internment week in August 1971 when it was put forward by the then leadership of the Republican Movement.

Right through the 1970s it was discussed with many shades of Unionism whose response invariably was that in the event of British disengagement from Ireland it would be their second choice. It was the most practical and generous proposal which was on offer, they said.

That first choice was for an independent Six-County State which in our opinion would not be viable. Also their preference was for English government support and backing as per the status quo of the time.

In 1981-82 those who now lead the Provisional Movement succeeded in having the ÉIRE NUA proposals jettisoned. They did so under the slogan that it was "a sop to Unionists". Their alternative has now been exposed as a return to Stormont and an updating of English rule here.

In 1988 Republican Sinn Féin revived the ÉIRE NUA idea of four provincial parliaments, including a nine-county Ulster, within a new Federal Ireland with maximum decentralisation of power and decision-making to local level.

An updated version of the original document was published in 1990 and it was again updated and brought out this year.

From the start in 1971 a note at the end of the document said that "the above proposals are not definitive; they can and inevitably will be modified". It went on to say that "Republican Sinn Féin would in fact welcome constructive criticism of these proposals".

ÉIRE NUA is not the property of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement. It was not discussed at their annual general meeting in July last nor can I recall those now prominent in that body seeking to defend it at the Ard-Fheiseanna of 1981 and 1982 when it was thrown out due to the machinations of those who now constitute the Provisional leadership.

Any attempt by the 32-County Sovereignty Movement to claim ÉIRE NUA now would be seen as seeking to "steal the political clothes" of Republican Sinn Féin.

Further, Denis Bradley’s lumping together of the Continuity IRA and the "Real IRA" is totally at variance with the public statements and reports of interviews with the Continuity IRA which have said repeatedly that there is no such connection. Allegations of this kind have been made by the 26-County Special Branch and it would be beneath the standing of a man like Denis Bradley to act as a press agent for them.

As to his main thesis that it is sought to impose ÉIRE NUA by force on the people of Ireland, let us all be very clear on that point.

The armed struggle down the years -- and it was stated publicly often enough -- was for (a) a British Declaration of Intent to disengage from Ireland; (b) an acknowledgement of the right of the Irish people, acting as a unit, to determine their own future; and (c) a general amnesty for all political prisoners.

There was never any question of imposing any particular form of government. That was always held to be a matter for the Irish people themselves "acting as a unit" in the context of a publicly-stated British government intention to disengage from Ireland.

Indeed, Republican Sinn Féin in its policy document Towards a Peaceful Ireland published in January 1991, put forward the idea of a Constituent Assembly brought about by a single All-Ireland election and charged with drafting a new constitution. To such a body Republican Sinn Féin would bring its ÉIRE NUA proposals. The outcome would be put to the people in referendum. Changing circumstances as shown in the updated versions of 1990 and 2000 indicate increasing nationalist control of local councils and growing nationalist support elsewhere.

The argument put by Republican leaders to the unionists in the 1970s that it was better to settle then before their strength was diluted has been borne out. They would not have the same degree of assurance today due to diminution of strength and lessening of faith in the English government.

The ÉIRE NUA proposals as updated are Republican Sinn Féin’s alternative to the Stormont Agreement of April 10, 1998. What we offer is natural power-sharing based on local majorities in preference to enforced and confined co-operation at Stormont. This is not put forward as definitive and exclusive of other proposals but it does provide a way out of the uncertainty and instability which is endemic under English rule.

It provides space for all minorities, vesting power and decision-making directly in the people in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity of function. It is a noble and honourable project, worthy of serious discussion and support.

Footnote: The ÉIRE NUA proposals always suggested a new Federal capital – in Athlone in the centre of Ireland. In addition, only Foreign Affairs, National Defence and overall financing would be reserved to Federal level; the rest would be administered at provincial level or beneath that.

Copies of documents referred to can be viewed at our website at hyperlink http://come.to/RepublicanSF -- Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President, Republican Sinn Féin.
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Housing picket in Ennis

THE James Connolly Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin, Ennis, Co Clare, have strongly condemned the appalling living conditions of the residents of Drumbiggle Flats in Ennis and urgently asked the Urban District Council to re-house these people, whose health is being threatened by the very condition they are living under.

The James Connolly Cumann held a protest picket outside the offices of Ennis County Council on September 29 last to highlight the conditions of the Drumbiggle flats and the massive shortage of local authority housing in the Ennis area. A statement was handed in to the UDC offices.

The secretary of the James Connolly Cumann, Noel Dickinson, was interviewed by Clare FM local radio, and the statement was carried on all news bulletins for that day. Great support was shown by the people of Ennis on this issue.

Noel Dickinson told SAOIRSE:
"Over the past years, Ennis Urban District Council have allowed so much Private Enterprise housing to acquire land and build houses to such a massive scale in the Urban area, with little regard for the needs of the working class population, that it would now appear that any future local authority housing would have to be built well outside the perimeter of the town, where infrastructure like shops, schools, churches etc would be some distance away from these houses, if and when they are built.

"The Urban Council are obviously not thinking of that section of our community who cannot afford expensive houses, yet these people have been on their housing lists for years.

"They must be aware that these people need local authority housing and need them urgently while speculators are being allowed buy up all prime locations.

"The James Connolly Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin strongly urge the Urban District Council to undertake a programme of housing as a matter of priority.

"We will be forwarding a letter to each Urban and County Councillor with regard to this serious issue".
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