Citizens’ Assembly first step to Border Poll on Irish Unity - Sinn Féin MEP

A Citizens’ Assembly would be the first step in achieving a Border Poll on Irish Unity, according to Sinn Féin Ireland South MEP, Kathleen Funchion.

Ms Funchion was one of the keynote speakers at this week’s ‘Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Legacy of John Hume’ conference in Derry’s Guildhall.

Speaking to The Derry News, the former Carlow and Kilkenny TD said: “I think we need to have a Citizens’ Assembly and let everyone have their say. Let all of the voices be heard.

“When you look at how they [Citizens’ Assemblies] have worked in the past, not only have they been successful but things came up that people would not have thought of. I really think that is an important part of it,” she added.

“Everyone will say that they respect the Good Friday Agreement and obviously part of that is to have that Border Poll but how do we get to a situation where we are doing that in the correct circumstances? For me the Citizens’ Assembly is the first step.”
Delighted to be asked to address the ‘Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Legacy of John Hume’ conference, Ms Funchion said Sinn Féin MEPs are “always trying to advocate for the North in the European Parliament.”

“I am really conscious that there has been a knock-on effect for the North, in a negative way unfortunately, since Brexit,” she added. “So I was really glad to see the conference programme. I think it is great for young people to get to make connections and potentially lifelong networks.

“One of the main things I was saying to the participants today was that we should look to the Good Friday Agreement. I know there have been difficulties and there are times when relationships are fraught still but we are nearly 30 years on from the Good Friday Agreement and it is holding.

“And when you look at the world we are living in now, I think that is an unbelievable achievement. The core message from that is that people with different views, sometimes really polar opposite views, are sitting around the table and actually working together.

“That is the message for politics I think, for a lot of international conflicts we have going on, and also for young people throughout their lives. I mean, in general, if you can bring that approach to whatever you are doing, in your job or whatever you might end up in, seeing other people's views and trying to work together, I think that's key.”

100 students and teachers from across Ireland attended the ‘Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Legacy of John Hume’ conference, organised by the European Parliament Liaison Offices in Ireland and Britain, in conjunction with the John and Pat Hume Foundation and the NI Youth Forum.

It ran from Monday to Wednesday and was a cross-border event for European Parliament Ambassador Schools (EPAS).

The participating schools included Errigal College in Letterkenny, St Columba’s College in Stranorlar, Belfast Boys’ Model School and Mercy College, Belfast. Derry’s Oakgrove Integrated College was a guest school at the conference.

Ms Funchion was joined by John Cushnahan (former MEP) and Mark Durkan (former Foyle MP and Stormont Deputy First Minister) for a conference panel discussion chaired by Maria Linnus, head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Britain.
Stephen Clark, director of European Parliament Liaison Offices and Tim Attwood, foundation secretary of the John and Pat Hume Foundation also spoke to the young conference participants.

EPAS is a European Parliament annual programme open to all post-primary schools and colleges in Britain and the EU. It connects its member schools and colleges to a network of more than 2,000 certified schools, 5,000 teachers, and 35,000 pupils and students throughout Europe.

The programme enables students to learn more about European parliamentary democracy, organise and take part in practical activities related to the EU, and engage with their community and Members of the European Parliament.

Ms Linnus described John Hume, who was awarded ‘European of the Year’ in 1993, as remaining “an inspiring example to young people and adults alike”.

“He often said ‘all regions at war should study how Europe was built’, added Ms Linnus, “and we are deeply honoured to organise and event centred on his legacy and, by bringing young people together from both sides of the border, to let his vision continue to speak to future generations.”

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Mark Durkan recalled how John Hume’s European Parliament experience helped to sustain his belief in democratic partnership.
“Such inspiration became a key ingredient for the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, whose advancement was also helped by significant and innovative Peace and Reconciliation Programmes supported by the European Parliament,” added Mr Durkan.

Former leader of the NI Alliance Party and Fine Gael MEP, John Cushnahan said the EU had made a “vital contribution to the Northern Ireland Peace Process”.

Tim Atwood said the John and Pat Hume Foundation was “delighted to partner with EPAS” and bring together students from Britain and Ireland to explore the importance of the European Union.

“John Hume was a passionate European who believed the European Union is ‘the best example in the history of the world of conflict resolution,’” said Mr Atwood.