People in the North are entitled to Representation in an Irish National Parliament - McCloskey
Aontú deputy leader Dr. Anne McCloskey and candidate for the Foyle constituency has stated that all the people of Ireland must be afforded the right to representation in a truly national parliament. Dr McCloskey was speaking in relation to Aontú policy that any Aontú member elected in the context of a Westminster election, will be resolute in their commitment to sitting in an Irish parliament.
Dr McCloskey stated:
“2019 marks the centenary of the establishment of Dáil Éireann, a watershed event in Irish history. The decision to create an Irish national parliament was a powerful action that put into practice the right of the Irish people to determine our own affairs.
“The Dáil that Countess Markievicz and Cathal Brugha and others established was a national parliament, not a partitionist one. We affirm the right of all the people of Ireland, north and south, to representation in a national parliament. Therefore, Aontú candidates will contest the 12th December elections on the basis that, if elected, we, like those elected to establish Dáil Éireann, will insist on upholding the right of the Irish people to a national parliament, not a partitionist one.
“With a mandate from people in the north, Aontú elected representatives will insist that the Irish government provides elected representatives from the north with full rights equal to those held by TDs representing other parts of Ireland.
“Aontú will not send elected representatives to Westminster. The policy of others who centre their politics on Westminster, whether they sit in the parliament chamber or not, is counter-productive to Irish unification and self-determination.
“Ireland’s future, north and south, must be determined in Ireland. The politics of Westminster Ireland remains a millstone around Ireland's neck. The Westminster establishment has for too long stunted this country and harmed our collective development.
“In recent weeks, Westminster undemocratically imposed an extreme abortion regime in Ireland. That is a tragic development that was cheerleaded by Sinn Féin, which claims to oppose Westminster ruling the north. Westminster's abortion measures were shockingly facilitated by the SDLP, a party that claims to be both pro-life and in favour of Irish self-determination. Aontú is a genuine pro-Irish self-determination party that seeks to uphold the human right to life.
"Westminster is intent on imposing withdrawal from the EU on the people of the north of Ireland, who voted against such a drastic measure. Westminster's actions will further embed partition and undermine any professed regard on the Westminster establishment's part for self-determination. Aontú will best represent the interests of people in the north and uphold Irish self-determination by leading the efforts for an all-Ireland Dáil.
“Aontú’s strategy for positive much-needed change is based on the understanding that positive change in Ireland, from ending poverty to ensuring protections for preborn humans, can realistically only be achieved in Ireland, not in Westminster.”
