Raymond McCartney sees this week's events as a 'gigantic step towards unity'

Foyle Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney has said in Derry Today that the return of powersharing to Stormont is a 'gigantic step' towards a united Ireland. He said it was a 'proud day' for republicans.

McCartney said he believed that his party’s goal of a united Ireland could be achieved through support for the Good Friday Agreement. 'This is all part of our long tern strategy in the peace process. As Tony Blair said in his speech alongside Martin McGuinness and Ian Paisley, we have not deviated one inch from our Irish republican principles at any stage in this process. I see this as a gigantic step towards Irish unity. We are now in a position to being about changes. We will be able to build confidence through the Assembly and show unionists that they have nothing to fear. Unity makes sense in economic and infrastructural terms and we will be working to convince others of that,' he said.

McGuinness looks to All-Ireland Ministerial Council

Speaking before the opening of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness highlighted the role of the Good Friday Agreement as a stage in the historic progress towards a united Ireland when he recently spoke of the re-establishment of the All Ireland Ministerial Council.

His speech also highlighted what may be the core demands for entering into a coalition government following the 26 Counties general election. McGuinness stated that 'Sinn Féin is seeking a mandate to be in government in the south. The implementation of the all-Ireland agenda would be hugely strengthened with Sinn Féin Ministers working in government, north and south at the same time.'

'Among our priorities in government will be the completion of a Green Paper on Irish Unity within one year, identifying steps and measures to promote and assist a successful transition to a United Ireland. We will also appoint a Minister of State with the specific responsibility to oversee this work and to direct and co-ordinate the Government's all-Ireland policies across Departments.'

Jim Mortimer in Socialist Campaign Group News

Responding to Martin McGuinness's article in the April edition of Socialist Campaign Group News, former General Secretary of the Labour Party Jim Mortimer outlines Britain's historic role in northern Ireland.

He sees the recent power-sharing agreement between Sinn Fein and the DUP as of great significance 'not only for the people of the six counties but for the whole of Ireland and Britain.' In setting it in the wider context of Britain's historic colonial role in Ireland, he suggests the Northern Ireland Assembly established by the Good Friday Agreement is but one stage in the process of Britain withdrawing from the north and republicans achieving a united Ireland when he says, 'the ending of slavery did not end colonialism.'

Anyone who does not fully understand the effect Britain's colonial occupation had on Ireland are reminded by Mortimer that during the Great Irish Famine of 1845-49, 'grain and cattle were being exported to pay the rent due to [often absentee] landlords.' It was in response to this that Jim Larkin and James Connolly linked the cause of Ireland with the cause of labour, continued by Liam Mellows after Connolly's execution, and today by Sinn Fein seeking a 32 county democratic socialist republic. Whilst the Irish Labour Party stands head and shoulders above its British counterpart today, it is Sinn Fein's programme of challenging both north and south of the partition border that will drive this progressive process forward.

Failte

Welcome to a new blog, established since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in March 2007. goodfriday >>> eastermonday has been set up for all those who support the Good Friday Agreement and recognise the role it will play in finally bringing about a United Ireland.

This blog is particularly for socialists and other progressives in Britain who support the ultimate aim of re-unifying all of Ireland under an Irish government.

The blog will therefore keep you updated on political developments in the 26 counties and in the north and offer practical ways for people in Britain to support the Agreement, including the re-establishment of cross-border institutions, and the development of all-Ireland political initiatives.