Sean Rego
Chief Opinions Editor
During my time in Belfast, Queens University hosted a rather small event for the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland (SDLP), Claire Hanna. It was an honor to hear from the Member of Parliament, not because I particularly agreed with her on much politically, but because she offered a fascinating view that I believe more people must consider around the ever-important topic of a United Ireland: devolution. Yes, Irish devolution.
For many, this may seem strange to consider a decentralization of the very much unitary Irish state, but I think Clare Hanna’s point speaks the precarious nature of Northern Ireland, much more than most like to acknowledge. In a recent BBC video of a middle ground vote, while many supported the idea of integration into Ireland, Northern Irish citizens emphasized the need for clarity and consent in a singular state. Questions about education, the healthcare system and cultural identity all aren’t simply erased in a scenario where 51% of people vote for unification.
Ireland is a storied land of clans, counties and provinces. If my time in Belfast taught me anything, it is that the Hibernian nation is rich in people and identities. Before British rule, Ireland was in a state of constant power flux, through which different kingdoms vied for overlordship on the entire island. Upon English domination, Irish provinces still ardently retained proud and distinct identities. In 1921 the Partition of the island invented what we can still understand to be the makeup of modern Irish governance, administration and statehood; 26 southern (largely Catholic) counties have a parliament, and 6 Ulster (largely Protestant) provinces get their own. Whatever we may say about the 100 years since partition, we cannot pretend like its ramifications and institutions can all simply be erased with one single referendum.
The parliament of Northern Ireland (Stormont) is a testament to the distinct identity of the region; its continued existence is a miracle of reconciliation and powersharing. But is it fair to the people of Ulster to remove their autonomy in a united Ireland? We’ve already seen Northern Ireland stripped of her devolved powers in 1972, and seldom do I think it should be repeated if a unification vote were to succeed. The fact is that, once you give a people a voice, vote and identity, it is hard to take that away, whether they are a majority or minority. The autonomy of Ulster, whether in the United Kingdom or United Ireland, cannot be erased so easily and must be respected.
Border polls still suggest that unification is far off, though ground has been gained in recent years for a referendum. Many will also point to the fact that Catholics have grown consequentially as a percentage of the population in Northern Ireland; these statistics cannot be ignored, and even if one disagrees with unification, one must be ready for its plausibility. In the Republic, the election of staunchly pro-unification Catherine Connolly for the Irish presidency may well hasten the effect.
Irish devolution would not be easy, but nor will Northern Irish integration. This will be a process akin to German re-unification and will take a bevy of new institutions and several years to fully and safely implement. However as the Good Friday Agreement promises, it is the people of Northern Ireland that get to determine what state they want– at one time, it was a more Protestant state and in the future, very well a Catholic one perhaps– but today, I think consensus remains that it should be a delicate balance of both with autonomous institutions. Powersharing in Stormont suggests that devolution for Ulster can succeed in a united Ireland. It would, in effect, give voices to all sides, British-leaning or Irish-leaning. I know that is not what everyone wants, but it would be dangerous to take the route of non-compromise again on that island.
I am not from Ulster or Ireland at all, but the precarious nature of peace is something we should all be able to see. Devolution is a heavy term, but it follows in the wake of the heavier burden of a potential unity referendum. Ultimately, if we are so ardent to change the status quo given 30 years ago, we must accept that all Ireland must once more have a peace they can tolerate and understand.
Featured image courtesy of Wikipedia
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