Public Consultation
on the
Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland
2022 marked the centenary of Seanad Éireann. While we used this time to glance back, we also used it to look forward. The public consultation looked at the constitutional future of the island of Ireland in the context of the ongoing public policy debate on the issue, the safeguarding of the peace process and the future we would all like to see for generations to come.
There were multiple public meetings held between September and October, which were the second part of a process that began in July, whereby the public were invited to make written submissions to the committee.
As part of the public consultation process, we invited submissions from individuals, interested groups and organisations from all over the island, from all communities and all traditions. The Seanad public consultation process was as follows. We wanted to: listen to the views of young people throughout the island of Ireland, including the voices of the communities and traditions of Northern Ireland, on their vision for the future; examine the criteria for referendums and the lessons of referendums held here and in other jurisdictions; and consider the societal and economic opportunities and challenges that should be considered, such as all-island healthcare, all-island education, housing, climate change, biodiversity, culture and language, sport, reconciliation and the important question of the subvention in Northern Ireland.
Following on from all of our hearings, we will issue a draft report, which will be prepared by the committee and published as soon as possible.
There were multiple public meetings held between September and October, which were the second part of a process that began in July, whereby the public were invited to make written submissions to the committee.
As part of the public consultation process, we invited submissions from individuals, interested groups and organisations from all over the island, from all communities and all traditions. The Seanad public consultation process was as follows. We wanted to: listen to the views of young people throughout the island of Ireland, including the voices of the communities and traditions of Northern Ireland, on their vision for the future; examine the criteria for referendums and the lessons of referendums held here and in other jurisdictions; and consider the societal and economic opportunities and challenges that should be considered, such as all-island healthcare, all-island education, housing, climate change, biodiversity, culture and language, sport, reconciliation and the important question of the subvention in Northern Ireland.
Following on from all of our hearings, we will issue a draft report, which will be prepared by the committee and published as soon as possible.
first day
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The first consultation was held in two parts. The morning session focused on listening and engaging with young people and experts from Foróige, the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Youth Forum, and the afternoon session heard perspectives from members of the public. Welcoming the voices of Young People and members of the public to the consultation and noting the centenary of Seanad Éireann, Senator Daly said: “This is an opportunity to look forward, while we also glance back over the last 100 years. Our Committee is indebted to the many people throughout the island who will engage with us throughout this process. In particular, I wish to welcome the presence of our young people today. They have more to gain and more to lose than any other generation. Their perspective is critical to this consultation. I also warmly welcome our friends from the Unionist community, who will join other communities this afternoon.” |
second day
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Senator Daly was particularly pleased with the participation of Gunther Thumann, who traveled to Ireland for the second day of the Public Consultation.
Mr. Thumann worked as a senior economist at the German desk of the International Fund at the time of German reunification. The morning session heard from young people from youth organisations Northern Ireland Youth Forum, Foroige and the National Youth Council of Ireland, while the afternoon session heard from trade union representatives, members of the public as well as the ESRI and academics from ARINS which is a joint project of The Royal Irish Academy, an all-island body, and the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affair. |
Third day
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The Seanad held a meeting to listen to unionist and other voices as part of the Seanad Public Consultation on the Constitutional Future of the island of Ireland.
The morning session focused on listening to and engaging with faith leaders, including the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church Mr Norman Hamilton. The next session was be led by Alliance Party Westminster MP Stephen Ferry. The afternoon session heard from voices from the Unionist community, including Claire Sugden MLA, former Minister for Justice in the Executive, Professor Peter Shirlow, and former Senator Ian Marshall. |
Fourth Day
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The Seanad Public Consultation Committee on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland wrapped up by holding an informative and productive fourth session. Submissions from that day included voices from the Scottish Nationalist Party & Professor Colin Harvey of Queens University.
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MEMBERS OF THE SEANAD PUBLIC CONSULTATION
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Senator Joe O’Reilly, Vice-Chairperson (Leas-Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann)
Senator Frances Black Senator Victor Boyhan Senator Pat Casey |
Senator Emer Currie
Senator Vincent P. Martin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile. Senator Mark Wall |