Rose Conway-Walsh: Preparing for a New and United Ireland
Rose Conway-Walsh addresses the Dáil to argue for statutory preparation for Irish unity, insisting the proposed Bill is about evidence-based planning rather than predetermining any constitutional outcome. She outlines social and economic benefits, a vision for a national health service, and the need for independent expertise and broad engagement across the island.
Main message: Conway-Walsh tells the Taoiseach that the majority of members support preparation for Irish unity. She frames the Bill as a way to ensure citizens, businesses and investors are fully informed about the opportunities, costs and practical implications of constitutional change.
Planning, not predetermination: The speech stresses that the purpose of the legislation is not to set a constitutional outcome but to create a framework for robust, evidence-based planning. Conway-Walsh emphasises independent expertise and engagement with business groups, trade unions, civic society and communities.
Economic and social vision: The speaker highlights potential gains from unity, including indigenous business growth alongside foreign investment, energy security through offshore wind, decarbonisation incentives, and a national health service where access is based on need and not ability to pay.
Political context and reaction: Conway-Walsh expresses disappointment with the Taoiseach for not sharing this vision, but cautions that public appetite for preparation remains strong across the island, among the diaspora and many young people. She closes insisting the work of preparation will continue.
Main message: Conway-Walsh tells the Taoiseach that the majority of members support preparation for Irish unity. She frames the Bill as a way to ensure citizens, businesses and investors are fully informed about the opportunities, costs and practical implications of constitutional change.
Planning, not predetermination: The speech stresses that the purpose of the legislation is not to set a constitutional outcome but to create a framework for robust, evidence-based planning. Conway-Walsh emphasises independent expertise and engagement with business groups, trade unions, civic society and communities.
Economic and social vision: The speaker highlights potential gains from unity, including indigenous business growth alongside foreign investment, energy security through offshore wind, decarbonisation incentives, and a national health service where access is based on need and not ability to pay.
Political context and reaction: Conway-Walsh expresses disappointment with the Taoiseach for not sharing this vision, but cautions that public appetite for preparation remains strong across the island, among the diaspora and many young people. She closes insisting the work of preparation will continue.
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Transcript
Taoiseach, the majority of members of this house want to do the preparation for Irish unity. They recognise that we have a distinctive opportunity to create a new and united Ireland, to create an island where nobody is left behind, to create an architecture underpinned by our values as an Irish nation and to create a national health service where optimum outcomes can be achieved by the world-class medical experts that we have on this island, where timely access to healthcare is determined by need and not on ability to pay. They recognise the economic benefits of a new and united Ireland, an Ireland where indigenous businesses thrive and grow alongside foreign direct investment, where we have energy security by maximising our offshore wind energy opportunities, where companies have incentives to decarbonise. The purpose of this Bill Taoiseach is not to predetermine any constitutional outcome but to ensure that robust planning is undertaken so that citizens and businesses and investors are fully informed of the opportunities, costs and practical implications associated with constitutional change. Our legislation would establish a framework for evidence-based planning informed by independent expertise and engagement with business organisations, with civic society, with trade unions and communities across this island. Regardless of the constitutional preference, it is in everybody's interests that any future transition is properly assessed, costed and planned in a manner that protects stability, safeguards investment and maximises economic opportunity. Taoiseach, I am disappointed you do not share the vision that I and the majority of Members of this House for a new and united Ireland have. Indeed, the vision that your own grassroots Members have across this state. However, you cannot hold back the tide forever. Citizens the length and breadth of this island, as well as the Irish diaspora, many young people who are desperate to come home to a new and united Ireland, will not be deterred from preparing for constitutional change. The work continues, Taoiseach. Lannan an abair ar ghaith.