Mayo councillors support motion to prepare for Irish unity

COUNCILLORS in Mayo have supported a motion calling on the government to get ready for Irish unity.

The motion came via a cross-party Oireachtas committee, Councillor Gerry Murray, who submitted it, explained. It has already been passed by 12 other local authorities.

He said there is a possibility of a referendum in the next seven years and it needs proper research and ground work done first.

The Sinn Féin member's motion came before the March meeting of the local authority.

The motion asked the council to write to the Office of An Taoiseach, seeking the Irish government to plan and prepare for Irish unity, through the following actions:

Establish an all-island representative Citizens' Assembly or Assemblies, to allow for informed debate, and a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Irish Unity to enable careful planning;

Produce and publish a plan towards Irish unity in conjunction with civic society and key stakeholders;

Engage with northern Protestant and Unionist opinion about the future of Ireland;

Work to secure a date for the referendums on unity provided for in the Good Friday Agreement.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme