Sinn Féin Louth TD Gerry Adams today raised with An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar the letter written to him earlier this week from the group Ireland’s Future.

On Monday over 1000 citizens from Civic Society signed a letter to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Among them are the relatives of the 1916 leaders, trade union leaders and activists, academics, people from the arts, business, the law, the media, community, education and the community.

The signatories are calling for a ‘new conversation’ about the future constitutional arrangements for the island of Ireland.

Speaking in the Dáil today, Gerry Adams said:

“The Programme for a Partnership government commits the government to fulfil its mandate as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement.

“The Brexit chaos and the demographic and political changes of recent years in the North have accelerated the conversation around the merits of Unity. In their letter to the Taoiseach they asked him to plan for the future.

“The signatories are proposing the establishment of a Citizens Assembly reflecting the views of citizens North and South, or a Forum to discuss the future and achieve maximum consensus on a way forward.”

The Louth TD asked the Taoiseach if he accepted that it is the duty of government to plan for the future and will he consult on this?

In his response the Taoiseach pointed to several other Citizens Assemblies ‘already in train’ but he acknowledged that he will give the request consideration.

Speaking afterward Gerry Adams said:

“While I understand the competing pressures the government faces for its attention nonetheless the Good Friday Agreement, the peace process and planning for the constitutional future of the island must be a priority.

“The political, economic, societal and cultural implications of the significant demographic and political changes that are taking place are too great to be put on the back burner. I would urge the Taoiseach to give this issue the urgent attention it requires.”