The Aontú leader says Micheál Martin’s position on a united Ireland is the most un-Fianna Fáil of any leader in the party’s history.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibin has said a Citizen’s Assembly on unity does not go far enough, and instead we need a modern New Ireland forum.
He said it would be an assembly where all of political civil society could meet together to start the process of filling in the gaps of the plan for unity.
Deputy Tóibín criticised Taoiseach Micheál Martin, saying he leads “the one political party that has its mind set against unity – the so-called republican party Fianna Fáil.”
“Micheál Martin is reluctant to enter into the discussion that is happening all over the island of Ireland. He often states there must be reconciliation before unity. “Why should reconciliation be more likely under partition than unity?
“Michael Martin’s position on a united Ireland is the most un–Fianna Fáil position of any leader ever of Fianna Fáil ever, in its history. How did a person so opposed to core Fianna Fáil values ever become leader of Fianna Fáil?”
“Liam Mellow once said that, if Ireland was partitioned, there would arise two establishments on both sides of the border who would depend on their border for their power.
“Sadly Mellows was right, Mícheál Martin’s position is not guided by what’s good for Ireland, but by what’s good for his narrow electoral interests.
He added: “The northern economy is stagnant because of the lack of self-determination. Public services in the north are falling apart because of the lack of self-determination. Unity would radically life the welfare of everyone in Ireland.
“We don’t need to wait for a referendum to start the work of unity. If Aontú had Ministers in the executive in the north right now we would be working to systematically equalise service delivery in every area we had authority.”
