FF Leader Refuses to Affirm Commitment to the Majoritarian Basis of GFA

Aontú Leader & Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín is amazed at the failure of an Taoiseach to affirm his commitment to the majoritarian element intrinsic within the GFA, and has called once more on an Taoiseach to do so!

“Speaking in the Dáil today, I asked the Taoiseach would he explicitly state in the Dáil that he was committed to the GFA, particularly the Majoritarian foundation upon which the GFA was built! The Good Friday clearly states that the constitutional location of the north of Ireland is based upon the majority will of the of the people of the north. Despite decades of FF support for the majoritarian principle within the GFA Mícheal Martin refused to commit to this principle.

I noted also to the Taoiseach that for years Fianna Fáil Leaders were not shy or embarrassed about declaring their support for Irish Unity in the manner he is. The Taoiseach reacted angrily and stated that he would not be pandering to any base. He rejected reaching out to people from the unionist community and making the case for unity.

“Is this to say that there is a change in official FF policy from majoritarian consent to a United Ireland, to absolute consent to a United Ireland? If this is now the official policy of FF and this government, then the ‘Shared Island’ unit in an Taoiseach’s office is dead on arrival. Such a policy essentially gives hardline Unionists a permanent veto over Irish self-determination.

The Irish political system is radically broken

In Ireland the vast majority of elected representatives put a finger in the air to check which way the political wind is blowing. They have one eye on their leaders – seeking brownie points – and another eye keeping their seat safe. If elected reps shut up and do as they’re told, they are promoted; if they stand up for what they believe in, they are demoted. No wonder we have the political class we have. No wonder one point one billion euro is being buried in a hole under the National Children’s Hospital and that Stormont is in stalemate.

Throughout Ireland, many people are now afraid to say what they feel, many are afraid to respectfully engage on a range of different topics. Many feel there is a new censorship and a new political correctness in Ireland, that opposition to the establishment is being deleted.

Respectful opposition is not the enemy. Respectful opposition is a critical element of a functional democracy. Aontú will have the backbone to stand up, without fear, for you.