Letter to Taoiseach Simon Harris

July 10, 2024

Taoiseach Simon Harris Department of the Taoiseach
Government Buildings
Merrion Street Upper
Dublin 2, D02 R583
Ireland

Dear Taoiseach Harris:

The Irish American Unity Conference would like to congratulate you on your recent election as Taoiseach, and on the Fine Gael party’s performance in the recent local elections. You have our very best wishes for a productive term and a successful Government.

The Irish American Unity Conference (“IAUC”) is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, human rights organization which advocates for the peaceful political reunification of the island of Ireland, with justice and equality for all of its citizens. The IAUC’s mission is to facilitate the peaceful reunification of Ireland; promote human rights and peace with justice in Ireland, and support Irish cultural development in the United States.

The IAUC welcomes former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s comments in support of Irish unification, as expressed at the Ireland’s Future forum in Belfast on June 15. Mr. Varadkar noted that he would like to see “what is a long-standing political aspiration towards unification become a political objective,” regardless of which parties are in office. He further stated, “I think it is reasonable to apply that same logic to unification and to start to set aside money now to ease that transition and also to reassure people who might be worried there will be an economic cost to them.” He also said that he would campaign for reunification.
As your immediate predecessor as Taoiseach and Fine Gael party leader, Mr. Varadkar’s views are significant in advancing the discussion about political unification. Equally significant is the forum at which he spoke. Ireland’s Future is open to all citizens to become educated about the issues and to express their views. It was established partly due to frustration that the Government has not embraced a program to solicit citizens’ views on unification. The Government’s Shared Ireland initiative has been an important step in advancing constructive and inclusive dialogue regarding a shared future on the island of Ireland, but is not designed to address political unification. Other interested parties have also sponsored forums to hear the public’s views.

While we applaud all of these initiatives, the IAUC believes that a coordinated, comprehensive, and inclusive program, led by the Government, is urgently needed to ensure detailed planning and robust discussion among Ireland’s citizens and prepare for the poll provided in Annex A, Schedule 1 of the GFA. Such a program should include specific proposals regarding potential economic, political, cultural, and commercial integration across the various regions of Ireland.

As you are well aware, the consequences of the Brexit vote to the UK have been disastrous due to a lack of advance planning and discussion. That experience serves as an important lesson that the Government of Ireland must prepare diligently so that people are well educated in advance of the impending vote. We are heartened that in speaking with First Minister O’Neill and Deputy First Minister Little-Pengelly on April 10, you expressed the importance of your role as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We note also that on the same day you expressed your determination to work with the British Prime Minister “to realize the potential of the Good Friday Agreement in full.” Full implementation of the GFA necessarily entails preparing for the referendum mandate of the Annex A, Schedule 1.

In closing, we again stress the urgency of the need for intensive Government planning to prepare for a vote on the unification of Ireland, as expressly provided and anticipated in the Good Friday Agreement.

We thank you for your consideration of our position and would welcome any responses that you may deem appropriate.
With sincere best wishes for your Government,

Peter C. Kissel
National President
Irish American Unity Conference
5604 Utah Ave., N.W. Washington, DC 20015 202-262-4785
pckissel47@gmail.com

CC:
Tanaiste Micheal Martin
Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason