Debate contribution: Summit on the Break-up of the United Kingdom
Debate contribution by Ms Emma Sheerin on .
- MLA
- Ms Emma Sheerin
- 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 5685206
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I am delighted to get the opportunity this afternoon to speak about what has been a truly historic event. It is a summit of celebration, which we all have cause to celebrate. This is what happens when you elect a nationalist First Minister and when you have nationalist First Ministers from across the devolved regions working collaboratively and cooperating with each other on what is best for all our people. I am sad to see how it has been framed by some others. You want to call it a break-up, but I would call it a formation of new relationships, hopefully culminating in the restoration of the most natural relationship for anybody on the island of Ireland, which is the reunification of all our people, North and South. On that, I remind the deputy First Minister and the DUP that no Irish republican or Irish nationalist needs permission from the DUP or anyone else to aspire to Irish unity. The days of 'Croppies lie down' are over. It is 2026, and we have the right to aspire to self-determination and Irish unification. That right is enshrined in law. We do not take direction from the harshest and most regressive elements of unionism. We do not react to dog whistles from bins. I say to the DUP that, if you want to advocate for the Union, you have the right to do so. Get involved in the conversation, make your arguments and advocate. Last week, you stood with us to argue with the British Government that they fund this place below need and that they serve our people here like they are second-class citizens. We get scraps from the table; we are an afterthought. You worked with us to deliver more for the people whom we all represent. If you want to advocate for the Union, you have the right to do so, but every backward step and every reaction to this from the sidelines show people that you want to take us backwards. People here do not want to go backwards; they want progress and prosperity, and they want to live a normal life. They do not want to be dragged back to the days of Drumcree and people being taken off the streets with batons.
We have the right to look towards the future and to look to progress and prosperity. That is a future that Irish reunification can offer us all. It is our right to make that case and to work with others to deliver it. I ask you to join us in that.
427 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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