Derry councillor welcomes call for Citizens Assembly on Irish Unity

Sinn Féin councillor Conor Heaney has welcomed the endorsement by the local Council of his motion urging the Irish government to establish a Citizens Assembly to plan and prepare for a referendum on Irish unity.

Derry and Strabane District Council will now write again to the Irish government pressing them to establish a Citizens Assembly on Irish re-unification.

Commenting after the monthly council meeting the Foyleside councillor said: “I welcome that my motion calling for the formation of a Citizens Assembly was passed at the monthly Council meeting.

“We have all seen the impact of the Labour British Government's decision to impose cuts to welfare benefits and overseas aid, in favour of increasing funding on weapons of war. We need to recognise that regardless of which party is in power in Britain, they do not take into account the interests of this part of Ireland.

“The Council will now write again to the Irish Government pressing them to establish a Citizens Assembly to plan and prepare for a referendum on Irish Unity.

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“The Irish government should now convene a Citizens Assembly on constitutional change as an umbrella for the many conversations we need to have and to create the democratic foundation for the inevitable debate which will surround the concurrent referenda provided for under the Good Friday Agreement.

“Change is in the air. Irish unity is now on the horizon. It is time to start preparing for a managed transition towards Irish reunification.”