‘Are we ready for a referendum?’
Colmcille Press is delighted to announce the publication of Paul Gosling’s new book, ‘A New Ireland
– A Five Year Review’, which builds on his previous research in ‘New Ireland: A Ten Year Plan’, and
considers what progress has been made in preparation for a potential referendum on the
constitutional future of this island.
Northern Ireland is governed by Stormont – except Stormont has been down for 40% of its history
since the Good Friday Agreement 27 years ago. Even when Stormont and its Executive meet, the
relationships are dysfunctional. The North has a health system that struggles to survive, marked by
excessively-long waiting lists and waiting times. The education system is dogged by division,
delineated by class, with many school pupils let down, marginalised, leaving school early.
Can Stormont be reformed and made workable? Would the retention of Stormont within a united
Ireland change this? Are the divisions now baked into a system that perpetuates conflict by
non-violent means?
Meanwhile, there are signs of increasing frustration and disinterest at Westminster, with ever more
voters indicating their priorities are within Britain (especially England), with little affinity towards
Northern Ireland. For many, Belfast, Derry and the rest are places of which they have heard, yet
know nothing. Opinion polling suggests Irish unity might be met by indifference in Britain.
Demographic change has meant the old certainties of Protestant and unionist dominance of
Stormont have disappeared. Sinn Fein holds the role of First Minister and unionism appears
frustrated and at times confused about its future.
The green fields of the South seem, to many, ever more appealing – higher pay, higher productivity,
higher welfare benefits, but also higher costs of living. So is unity the future? Are enough
preparations being made for a referendum? ‘A New Ireland – A Five Year Review’ examines what
has been done and suggests what needs to happen next.
“While not inevitable, in the aftermath of Brexit, referendums on Irish Unity as provided for in
the Good Friday Agreement, have become much more likely. If we do not prepare for that
possibility well in advance of any vote, the outcome, whatever it is, will be a disaster. This
book is a major contribution to placing the necessary research and analysis into the public
realm to facilitate informed public debate.” Professor John Doyle, Dublin City University