Debate contribution: Summit on the Break-up of the United Kingdom
Debate contribution by Mr Pat Sheehan on .
- MLA
- Mr Pat Sheehan
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 14 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Matter of the Day
- Heading
- Summit on the Break-up of the United Kingdom
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5685188
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I suppose that, when the First Ministers of the North, Scotland and Wales organised that meeting, they did not anticipate the level of meltdown among unionists here, but there you go. I suppose that Donald Trump's utterances have added to that. I noticed that Jonathan Buckley got his photograph taken down at the golf. Golf is an enjoyable affair; you looked as though you were sucking a lemon, but anyway. Today's meeting in Cardiff marks an important moment for the future of these islands. The election in May provided an opportunity. For the first time, there are three nationalist First Ministers. That is a clear and powerful indication that people demand a different political direction. That is because Westminster is failing the people of the North, Scotland and Wales. The leaders who are meeting today are calling on the British Government to prepare, plan for and facilitate constitutional change in Wales, Scotland and the North of Ireland. Our parties have much to gain from working together where we share common interests and where cooperation can deliver real improvements for the workers, families and communities that we represent. We will work together on energy, the economy and our relationships with Europe, building stronger and fairer societies. The future of Scotland is a matter for the people of Scotland. The future of Wales is a matter for the people of Wales. The future of Ireland must be decided by the people of Ireland. For Ireland, that principle is not simply an aspiration; it is a democratic right that is embedded in the Good Friday Agreement. We have the means to decide our future. The responsibility now is to prepare seriously for that choice. Irish unity is no longer a distant aspiration; it is a serious contemporary political project. The debate is already under way. A referendum on Irish unity is not something to fear but something for which to prepare. Today's meeting is another important step towards that, breaking the political shackles of Westminster and building an Ireland that is founded on fairness, equality and opportunity for all.
346 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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