“Fianna Fail TD Cathal Crowe’s comments are yet another example of the deep-seated contempt for Northern Ireland that still exists within certain sections of the Irish political sphere.
While Mr. Crowe chose to reference the Belfast Agreement in his remarks, he conveniently ignored the fundamental element of that Agreement: the principle of consent.
The Belfast Agreement reaffirmed that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom unless and until a majority here decide otherwise. The Irish Government, as part of that Agreement, removed its constitutional claim to Northern Ireland. Yet, Mr. Crowe seems to believe that unification is merely an inevitability rather than a matter of democratic will.
His remarks demonstrate a romantic view of Irish unity, one that disregards the reality that Northern Ireland exists as an integral and legitimate part of the United Kingdom, and that the majority viewpoint here is pro-Union. The principle of consent cannot simply be wished away by rhetoric.
If Mr. Crowe truly wishes to speak about hurt, he would do well to encourage his Government to reflect on the pain endured by the thousands of innocent victims of IRA terrorism. Rather than seeking to undermine Northern Ireland’s place within the UK, perhaps he should address the legacy of the Irish Government’s role in the actions of Republican terrorism during the Troubles.
Mr Crowe can fantasise all he wants, but Northern Ireland’s future will be decided by the people who live here, not by wishful thinking in Dublin.”